Abubakar Dantsoho Driving NPA’s Vision Forward At Lekki Ports Amid Meteoric Rise
Under the dynamic Port Manager of Lekki Port, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Emmanuel Anda is steering Nigeria’s premier deep-sea port to unprecedented heights, amid global challenges.
In an interview, he submits that all achievements are part of a must do list, given to him by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority. Abubakar Dantsoho.
He highlighted a stellar 20% surge in operations during Q1 2026 as against the same period in 2025, crediting visionary leadership and strategic investments by the Managing Director for transforming obstacles into triumphs.
Record-Breaking Performance
Lekki Port has shattered expectations, improving all metrics from late 2025 by 20% already, with focus, market traffic, and operations looking stronger than ever. Despite worldwide economic headwinds and Middle East tensions straining oil markets, the port posted marginal gains over last year. Comrade Anda Emmanuel noted Dangote Refinery’s global ranking as a key driver, drawing unprecedented vessel traffic and positioning Lekki as a vital hub for petroleum products, crude oil and containers.
Major shipping lines like CMA CGM are committing to bringing massive vessels—of up to 400 LOA as soon as dredging limits and widening turning base issues are sorted out—while others are actively exploring partnerships. With the expected channel dredging and base widening on the horizon, Emmanuel forecasts exponential throughput growth by Q4, echoing NPA’s broader successes like 2025’s 24.8% national cargo increase to 129.3 million metric tons, where Lekki led with 40.6% share.
Infrastructure Leap
Under the Port Management led by Comrade Emmanuel, Lekki doubled its tugboat fleet from four to eight, all thanks to the focus of the Executive Management of NPA. It is understood that about 10-12 more tugboats are in the pipeline, targeting about 18-20 to handle both tanker and container vessels simultaneously across five SBMs and two berths.
This positions the port to service any vessel size efficiently, outpacing congested rivals like Tin Can-Apapa and Lagos Port Complex. Through 90% automation in processes, handling, and billing, unbeatable turnaround times for vessels have already been established.
Emmanuel emphasized how economies of scale from larger vessels slash freight costs, drawing traders away from largely manual operations at Lagos and Tin Can ports. “Every trade operator will be attracted to Lekki Port,” he affirmed, underscoring the port’s edge in speed and efficiency.
Championing National Single Window
As the March 27 launch nears, Comrade Emmanuel confirmed NPA’s full readiness, with staff trained across key departments like Harbors, Tariff, and Operations. The system promises simultaneous agency processing, public transparency on payments and timelines, and clearance down to 24 hours—slashing costs and boosting port efficiency nationwide.He hailed it as a “win-win,” excluding unauthorized players while measuring agency performance in real-time. Ongoing collaborations, including tomorrow’s committee visit, ensure seamless rollout, aligning with NPA’s IPCSA membership and transshipment gains.
Tackling Challenges Head-On
Emmanuel candidly addressed rising corridor accidents from reckless tippers, tankers, and tricycles amid coastal road works, advocating government intervention for safety—like curbing night parking and open fires near petrol tankers. Yet, his proactive engagements with Dangote Refinery’s CEO David Baird and trucker unions, issuing marching orders for truck parks, demonstrate hands-on leadership resolving issues locally.Exports soared 20-30% in Q1 2026 over 2025—including 20% cargo jumps—bridging the gap between exports and imports for the first time in his long career. This has been largely fueled by government incentives an deliberate focus. Lekki’s free zone hums with industries exporting solid minerals, raw materials, and finished goods to Africa.
Praise for Transformational Managing Director of NPA
Comrade Emmanuel lauded NPA Managing Director Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho as a “round peg in a round hole”—a welfarist insider whose appointment alone ignited workforce motivation, knowing staff faces from Marina to all ports. Under his free hand, Lekki sells “excellence, speed, and efficiency,” mirroring NPA’s huge trade surpluses and strategic naira-based petroleum policies.
Projecting 20-30% yearly growth
The Port Manager envisions Nigeria as a net exporter powerhouse. Comrade Anda Emmanuel embodies this ambition, proving Lekki Port not just a facility, but Nigeria’s gateway to global maritime dominance.