DR. UKEYIMA RALLIES MARITIME LEADERS FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION TO DRIVE AfCFTA AND PORT SAFETY

DR. UKEYIMA RALLIES MARITIME LEADERS FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION TO DRIVE AfCFTA AND PORT SAFETY
Dr. Ukeyima Says Unified Standards and Training Will Strengthen West and Central Africa Shipping
By Prince Benson Davies

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council is pushing for stronger maritime collaboration across West and Central Africa as a way to improve vessel safety, boost trade under AfCFTA and make the region’s ports more competitive. Executive Secretary, Dr. Akutah Pius Ukeyima, said the focus must be on harmonized inspections, shared training programmes and stronger institutional governance.

Dr. Ukeyima spoke on Monday at the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding Regional Workshop for Heads of Maritime Administrations in Lagos. The forum was held under the theme, “A Future-Ready Port State Control Regime: Leadership, People, Governance, and Performance for Safer Maritime Systems.”

He described the workshop as well-timed and said strong leadership is the bedrock of stable and forward-looking maritime institutions.

While regulations and technology are important, he noted that real progress depends on purposeful leadership, institutional resolve and closer collaboration among neighboring states.

He welcomed the five-year Port State Control Capacity-Building Programme jointly launched by the Abuja MoU and the Lloyd’s Register Foundation. He called it a major effort to strengthen leadership, build institutions and raise regulatory standards in West and Central Africa.

According to him, the programme reflects a shared goal to grow stronger maritime systems through investment in people and governance. It is also expected to lift compliance with international conventions and improve the quality of port state control across the region.

Dr. Ukeyima also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for making the Marine and Blue Economy a key part of Nigeria’s diversification plan with the creation of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

He recognized the Minister, Adegboyega Oyetola, for pushing reforms and providing direction that is helping Nigeria’s maritime sector align with global standards in a short time.

He said a functional Port State Control system is essential to safer vessels, cleaner oceans, better port performance and stronger investor trust. These, he added, are critical to making AfCFTA work effectively.

He restated NSC’s focus on developing leaders and working with stakeholders. The Council, he said, is maintaining close engagement with regulators, terminal operators, shipping lines and other players to advance openness, efficiency and confidence in the sector.

He called on regulators, port managers, development partners and industry actors in the region to expand joint training, adopt harmonized inspection approaches, coordinate policy changes and share more information. He argued that such steps will raise compliance levels and improve the region’s competitive edge.

He expressed optimism that closer collaboration among Abuja MoU members will strengthen maritime governance, upgrade port state control, support regional commerce and position West and Central Africa as a safer and more efficient shipping gateway.

He concluded that the workshop’s resolutions will help deepen cooperation and build resilient maritime institutions that can drive sustainable growth and safer shipping across the sub-region.