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Dantsoho Wins Big at Nigeria Excellence Awards in Public Service
By prince Benson Davies
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has been recognised with the prestigious Award of Excellence in Maritime Infrastructure Modernization & Global Competitiveness at the Nigeria Excellence Awards in Public Service (NEAPS). The award ceremony, held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, is a testament to Dr. Dantsoho’s outstanding leadership and commitment to transforming the Nigerian ports sector.
The NEAPS award is a presidential initiative that publicly recognizes and decorates public servants who have demonstrated excellence in the discharge of their duties. Dr. Dantsoho’s recognition is a reflection of his tireless efforts in deepening efficiencies that have catalyzed the attainment of national trade surplus through unprecedented growth in exports.
Under Dr. Dantsoho’s leadership, the NPA has made significant strides in modernizing port infrastructure and equipment, growing the influence of Nigeria in the comity of Maritime nations. The authority has also been at the forefront of galvanizing global investors’ interest in the modernization of Nigerian ports.
The NPA’s General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Ikechukwu Onyemekara, noted that the maritime industry has enjoyed major reforms in the past, with visible transformation across board. He listed the reforms drive in the past decades to include port modernization, ETO traffic management, the National Single Window, and new export-processing terminals, repositioning Nigerian ports for efficiency, competitiveness, and foreign investment.
Onyemekara also highlighted the importance of multimodalism, stating that every port system operates on this platform. He emphasized that the NPA’s responsibility is to provide infrastructure, while operators need to make their mode of transport attractive to consignees.
The NPA spokesperson described 2025 as one of the most transformative years in the authority’s recent history, crediting Dr. Dantsoho, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, and President Bola Tinubu for their bold policies. He predicted a stronger year ahead, with the National Single Window expected to reduce human interference and strengthen cargo clearance efficiency.
The award is a testament to Dr. Dantsoho’s commitment to excellence and his vision for a modern and efficient ports sector. It is a recognition that will further motivate the NPA team to continue to work towards achieving the authority’s mandate of providing world-class maritime infrastructure and services.
