By AISHA COLE

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, has reaffirmed the agency?s commitment to supporting indigenous vessels under the Nigeria First policy.

Dantsoho made this known in a statement issued on Friday by Mr Okechukwu Onyemekara, NPA?s General Manager, Corporate Communication and Strategy.

He applauded the maiden arrival of MV Ocean Dragon, a wholly Nigerian-owned container vessel, at the West African Container Terminal (WACT), Onne Port, on July 31.

Dantsoho highlighted the vessel?s impressive loading capacity of 349 TEUs, describing it as a distinctive addition to Nigeria?s growing indigenous maritime fleet.

He said MV Ocean Dragon aligns with President Bola Tinubu?s Renewed Hope agenda and NPA?s commitment to enhancing Nigerian content development in maritime operations.

Dantsoho noted the vessel?s ability to transport thousands of Gross Registered Tonnages (GRT) across Africa within days, showing Nigeria?s growing compliance with IAPH standards.

He added that the vessel supports NPA?s focus on multi-modalism and seamless port-to-hinterland connectivity, in line with global port development frameworks.

According to him, this connectivity also supports the Export Processing Terminals (EPTs), designed to link rural producers to international trade hubs efficiently.

He said: ?The NPA?s port modernisation and reform efforts aim to sustain a business environment that has enabled consistent national trade surpluses.?

Dantsoho noted the rise in transhipment at Lekki Deep Seaport and growing trade volumes reported by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group for 2025.

He said the addition of MV Ocean Dragon will boost Nigeria?s maritime profile and shows that the investment climate is increasingly improving.

?With rising shipping volumes, investments like this will shape the long-term impact of maritime trade and reinforce Nigeria?s global shipping relevance,? he said.

He assured investors that NPA, under Minister Adegboyega Oyetola?s leadership, will keep working to enhance ease of business in the blue economy sector.

Dantsoho said the container vessel, owned by Clarion Shipping West Africa Ltd, exemplifies indigenous investment with its 349 TEU capacity.

He said MV Ocean Dragon will advance short-sea shipping by serving local and regional routes, offering faster, cost-effective alternatives to road transport.

He added that the vessel will operate across Nigeria and West Africa, including ports in Benin, Togo, Ghana, Cameroon, and C?te d?Ivoire.

Its route will also cover Egypt, Sierra Leone, and South Africa, helping to integrate regional trade networks through efficient maritime connectivity. (NAN)

?PHOTO: The Managing Director, Nigerian Port Authority, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, and the management of APM terminal in Onne, Port-Harcourt during the berth of MV Ocean Dragon

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