Abubakar Dantsoho, the managing director of Nigerian Ports Authority, says that interconnectedness and interdependence of African nations make cooperation an essential precondition for the collective advancement of seaports across the continent.

Mr Dantsoho said this at the closing ceremony of the 45th Annual Council of the Port Management Association of West & Central Africa held in Pointe-Noire, Congo, according to a statement on Sunday.

Mr Dantsoho, who is also the President of PMAWCA, commended the level of enthusiasm and altruism displayed throughout the PMAWCA technical sessions and deliberations. He said that the enthusiasm and altruism displayed convinced him that ports within the sub-region were well-positioned to confront future challenges with renewed confidence.

Mr Dantsoho said resolutions from the week-long meeting would shape policy formulation and strengthen government action across member states.

“On behalf of all of us at PMAWCA, thank you immensely for lending your time and expertise to advancing the frontiers of trade and prosperity by deploying your efforts, energies, and experience to formulate ideas that will enable us, as a sub-region, to maximise the potential of our maritime sector.

“I have always looked forward to a time in the life of the African community when we all collaborate and act in good faith in pursuit of the greater good of our dear Africa. Judging from the goodwill, enthusiasm, and altruism that pervaded the technical sessions and meetings, as evidenced by the robust cross-fertilisation of ideas, I am persuaded that the Ports of West and Central Africa are poised to face the future with confidence,” he said.

Mr Dantsoho reiterated that Africa’s geographical and economic realities demand stronger integration and cooperation, especially given the rapidly evolving global maritime environment. He also expressed gratitude to the government and people of the Republic of Congo for their hospitality in hosting the council.

The PMAWCA president commended the secretary-general of PMAWCA, Koffi Marie, as well as the Port of Pointe-Noire team and other partners for their excellent coordination. He also applauded the unity of purpose demonstrated by directors-general and chief executives of member ports, describing their contributions as “remarkable”.

Mr Dantsoho assured participants of the implementation of the council’s key decisions.

“This convergence of West and Central African talent to generate ideas for optimising opportunities inherent in our maritime and demographic endowments will give direction to policy formulation. It will also embolden government action, as the decisions and the communique arising from this meeting will be given the seriousness they deserve.

“As delegates prepare to depart, I urge you all to sustain the momentum of collaboration, invoking the popular words of global industrialist Henry Ford: ‘Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success,’” Mr Dantsoho said.

(NAN)