AfCFTA: Tinubu to open conference in Lagos, Nov 6, '23
By Victor UDU.
All is now set for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to open the West And Central African Ports meeting holding in Nigeria from November 6 to 9 at the Lagos Continental Hotel Victoria Island .
The 43rd Annual Conference and 18th Managing Directors' Roundtable on the NPA has as it's team: The Role of Ports in the African Continental Free Trade Area AfCFTA.
The Council provides a suitable platform for the cross-fertilization of ideas, experiences and knowledge sharing to guide necessary policy action towards maximizing comparative advantage of the sub-region.
Accordingly, in recognition of the remarkable improvements demonstrated by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in advancing the frontiers of trade facilitation, the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa(PMAWCA) has conferred the hosting right on the NPA.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola said the gathering of maritime experts is very timely as it's coming when Nigeria is eager to provide the leadership necessary to convert maritime and blue economy potentials to actualities in a bid to provide opportunities for growing youth population.
He stressed that "to demonstrate the premium we place on maximizing the emerging opportunities of AfCFTA which is the focal point of the conference, we have given the Nigerian Ports Authority all the support necessary for a flawless hosting.
During a media chat at the NPA Headquarters in Marina, Managing Director, NPA, Mohammed Bello Koko stated that "Our confidence in hosting this conference is on demonstration of our readiness to provide regional leadership in Ports competitiveness and is inspired by the uncommon trade facilitation orientation of Mr President who is already endorsing some of our initiatives for the maximization of our littoral assets under the auspices of the ministry of Marine.
