President Muhammadu Buhari has launched
the first Regional Conference of International Africa Ports and Harbour
(IAPH) where he advised countries to improve on ports infrastructure and
utilise all natural maritime endowments to
facilitate trade.
the first Regional Conference of International Africa Ports and Harbour
(IAPH) where he advised countries to improve on ports infrastructure and
utilise all natural maritime endowments to
facilitate trade.
Buhari made the plea on Monday in Abuja at the Conference with the theme: “Africa Ports and Hinterland Community”.
He said that interconnectivity would
improve African countries’ economic competitiveness as targeted under
the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.
improve African countries’ economic competitiveness as targeted under
the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.
Buhari advised that every port should have the complement of rail infrastructure.
“To complement the improvement in trade
facilitation, we have improved on upgrading infrastructure. Our
projection is that by the end of 2021, we will have standard gauge
railway across the main North-South trading route.
facilitation, we have improved on upgrading infrastructure. Our
projection is that by the end of 2021, we will have standard gauge
railway across the main North-South trading route.
“The same level of serious attention is being given to the improvement of road infrastructure.
“At the moment, 25 major highways and 44
roads are under construction across the six geo- political zones of the
count just as we have insisted on the simulation activities on our
inland waterways.
roads are under construction across the six geo- political zones of the
count just as we have insisted on the simulation activities on our
inland waterways.
“Major inland river channels are being
dredged with adequate channel markings for ease of navigation all the
way through the Eastern and Northern parts of the country.
dredged with adequate channel markings for ease of navigation all the
way through the Eastern and Northern parts of the country.
“That is the only way to go if we plan to remain competitive in the maritime industry.
“I want to implore participants at the
conference to see themselves as people opportuned to stand in positions
of responsibility on behalf of Africa,” the president said.
conference to see themselves as people opportuned to stand in positions
of responsibility on behalf of Africa,” the president said.
Buhari said that maritime sector was central to facilitation of trade and total integration of Africa for development.
The Minister of Transportation, Mr
Chibuike Amaechi, urged African countries to optimise the comparative
advantage of their maritime endowments.
Chibuike Amaechi, urged African countries to optimise the comparative
advantage of their maritime endowments.
Amaechi said that it should be understood
that optimising maritime potential was totally dependent on efficient
transportation of cargo from ports of destination into the hinterland.
that optimising maritime potential was totally dependent on efficient
transportation of cargo from ports of destination into the hinterland.
“We are therefore committed to the
multi-modal system of transportation from all our ports by improving on
the extension of our railways to facilitate the ease of transportation
from ports to hinterlands.
multi-modal system of transportation from all our ports by improving on
the extension of our railways to facilitate the ease of transportation
from ports to hinterlands.
“We have started test operations in Warri
and other places two months ago. We have reconstructed some railways
for standard gauge to further open up the nation’s hinterlands.
and other places two months ago. We have reconstructed some railways
for standard gauge to further open up the nation’s hinterlands.
“With the development of dry ports in
Kano and Kaduna, with direct rail connection, cargoes and containers now
easily transmit to Northern Nigeria.
Kano and Kaduna, with direct rail connection, cargoes and containers now
easily transmit to Northern Nigeria.
“This also extends to Chad, Niger Republic in our determination to promote trans-shipment of cargoes to Niger Republic.
“We are also partnering with the
government of Niger Republic in the reconstruction of Maadi, Niger
Republic, from Kano to promote regional motivation of trade,” he said.
government of Niger Republic in the reconstruction of Maadi, Niger
Republic, from Kano to promote regional motivation of trade,” he said.
Amaechi said that solid minerals and some
agricultural produce were already being exported from Ikorodu Lighter
Terminal through Apapa port in Lagos.
agricultural produce were already being exported from Ikorodu Lighter
Terminal through Apapa port in Lagos.
The Managing Director, IAPH, Mr Patrick
Verhoven, said that Africa was the second largest and second most
populous continent with six of the 10 fastest growing economies in the
world.
Verhoven, said that Africa was the second largest and second most
populous continent with six of the 10 fastest growing economies in the
world.
According to him, improving hinterland connection is not merely a matter of “hardware”.
“It is also about investing in
“software”, namely people’s skills and Smart IT with 50 per cent of
Africa’s 1.2 billion people under the age of 20 and a workforce of 504
million expected by 2020,” Verhoven said.
“software”, namely people’s skills and Smart IT with 50 per cent of
Africa’s 1.2 billion people under the age of 20 and a workforce of 504
million expected by 2020,” Verhoven said.
He told the participants to ensure that
the port industry attracted the right status as well as made the best
use of innovations in digitisation, stressing that the use of data was
of equal significance.
the port industry attracted the right status as well as made the best
use of innovations in digitisation, stressing that the use of data was
of equal significance.
The Vice President of IAPH, Ms Hadiza
Bala-Usman, said there was no doubt that “Africa holds a special space
in the global space with 39 of the 54 countries on the continent endowed
with littoral assets”.
Bala-Usman, said there was no doubt that “Africa holds a special space
in the global space with 39 of the 54 countries on the continent endowed
with littoral assets”.
Bala-Usman, who is also the Managing
Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), said that the development of
the continent was to a large extent, tied to optimal exploitation of its
vast maritime resources.
Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), said that the development of
the continent was to a large extent, tied to optimal exploitation of its
vast maritime resources.
According to her, determinant factors for
determing ports are the speed and seamlessness with which owners of
cargoes are able to move their consignments out of the ports.
determing ports are the speed and seamlessness with which owners of
cargoes are able to move their consignments out of the ports.
She said that Africa needed some work to
be done in that area and urged participants to open their minds to speak
out and learn new things that would justify the meeting.
be done in that area and urged participants to open their minds to speak
out and learn new things that would justify the meeting.
Bala-Usman recalled that IAPH was
established to promote development of ports and create worldwide synergy
for effectiveness among all member countries through strong member
relationships.
established to promote development of ports and create worldwide synergy
for effectiveness among all member countries through strong member
relationships.
In its 63-years of existence, the
association had grown into a global alliance, representing 180 member’
ports and 140 port-related businesses in 90 countries.
association had grown into a global alliance, representing 180 member’
ports and 140 port-related businesses in 90 countries.
