society
HOW DANTSOHO IS RENEWING HOPE AT NPA
HOW DANTSOHO IS RENEWING HOPE AT NPA
By Moses Okanga
Along Nigeria’s vibrant coastline, where the ceaseless rhythm of waves merges with the aspirations of a nation, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho is orchestrating a transformative revival at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). As a cornerstone of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, his visionary leadership is reshaping Nigeria’s maritime landscape, turning once-dilapidated ports into dynamic gateways of global trade.
With bold reforms, including billion-dollar infrastructure overhauls, revitalisation of underutilised Eastern ports, and the integration of cutting-edge technology, Dantsoho is dismantling decades of inefficiency. His commitment to transparency, innovation, and economic growth is not only restoring the NPA’s global stature but also igniting a beacon of hope, positioning Nigeria as a maritime powerhouse poised to lead Africa’s trade renaissance.
Established in 1954 under the Ports Act (Cap 155 of the Law of the Federation of Nigeria), the NPA initially managed the ports of Lagos and Port Harcourt. In 1969, its mandate expanded to include Warri, Koko, Burutu, and Sapele, previously operated by private merchant companies. Today, the NPA is the statutory body tasked with managing, developing, and operating Nigeria’s ports and harbours.
Its core responsibilities include overseeing port infrastructure development to meet international standards, providing nautical and harbour services such as hydrographic surveys, towage, and mooring, and ensuring the safety and security of port operations through robust regulations. The NPA also manages leasing and concession activities, sets tariff benchmarks to maintain economic competitiveness, and mitigates environmental risks to safeguard marine ecosystems.
For decades, systemic corruption, ineffective leadership, and a lack of political will undermined the NPA’s vision of becoming Africa’s maritime logistics hub, delivering efficient, secure, and customer-friendly port services. Ports suffered from decrepit infrastructure, silted channels, collapsed breakwaters, and inefficient operations, stifling Nigeria’s economic potential.
The appointment of Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho as Managing Director marked a pivotal shift, aligning the NPA with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to reverse these negative trends and restore credibility. Upon assuming office, Dantsoho launched a forensic audit to identify and address barriers to the NPA’s potential, laying the groundwork for a holistic transformation. His leadership swiftly turned the tide, addressing crumbling infrastructure and operational inefficiencies.
Recognising the stark underutilization of Eastern ports—Port Harcourt, Onne, Warri, and Calabar, which handled less than a third of their capacity—he prioritised immediate upgrades to bring them on par with Lagos, which previously absorbed over 90% of maritime traffic. This strategic redistribution has decongested Lagos ports, boosted regional trade, and enhanced overall port efficiency.
To address the seasonal limitations of Onitsha Port due to inconsistent dredging of the River Niger, Dantsoho initiated comprehensive dredging efforts, ensuring year-round operations and unlocking the port’s economic potential. Dantsoho’s ambitious modernisation agenda includes a $1 billion reconstruction of the Tincan Island Port Complex and comprehensive rehabilitation of Apapa, Rivers, Onne, Warri, and Calabar ports.
These projects, supported by the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, aim to rejuvenate port facilities, streamline operations, and attract investment. His leadership has driven a remarkable 45.1% surge in cargo traffic and a 9.7% increase in container throughput, reflecting heightened trade activity and operational efficiency.
The introduction of an electronic truck call-up system has further revolutionised port operations, significantly reducing gridlock on access roads and improving traffic flow, thereby enhancing the overall user experience. Aligned with President Tinubu’s vision, Dantsoho has championed the commissioning of inland dry ports, such as the Funtua Inland Dry Port in Katsina State, to promote non-oil exports and facilitate trade.
The planned $1 billion Snake Island Port, spanning 85 hectares within the Snake Island Integrated Free Zone, represents a bold step toward solidifying Nigeria’s position as a leading maritime hub. These initiatives, coupled with advanced monitoring systems and port modernisation, are positioning Nigeria’s ports to compete on a global stage.
Dantsoho’s transformative vision extends beyond infrastructure. His election as president of the Port Management Association of West & Central Africa (PMAWCA) underscores Nigeria’s growing influence in the global maritime community, marking a significant milestone for the sector. His pragmatic leadership emphasises human capital development, recognising a skilled workforce as the backbone of innovation and efficiency.
Through merit-based promotions and enhanced staff welfare packages, Dantsoho has fostered a motivated workforce, driving performance and curbing corruption. These efforts have created a culture of accountability and excellence within the NPA, aligning with its mission to deliver world-class port services.
In line with President Tinubu’s “Nigeria First” policy, Dantsoho supports the establishment of the Nigeria Revenue Service, which will centralise revenue collection for the NPA, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and the Nigeria Customs Service. This initiative aims to enhance transparency and efficiency in revenue management. Additionally, promoting indigenous ownership of shipping vessels aligns with the administration’s goal of strengthening Nigeria’s maritime sovereignty and economic independence.
Dantsoho’s leadership is a testament to the power of proficiency, dedication, and patriotism. His bold reforms and tangible achievements are not only revitalising the NPA but also contributing significantly to Nigeria’s economic growth. By addressing systemic challenges and implementing strategic initiatives, he is transforming Nigeria’s ports into engines of prosperity, enhancing trade, and improving the lives of Nigerians.
Dantsoho’s alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda is evident in every facet of his work, from infrastructure development to operational efficiency and global competitiveness. As a steadfast apostle of President Tinubu’s blueprint, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho exemplifies the potential for transformative change in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
His dynamic leadership is redefining the NPA’s role as a catalyst for economic development, restoring national pride, and positioning Nigeria as a global maritime leader. Through his visionary initiatives, Dantsoho is not just renewing hope at the NPA—he is charting a bold course for Nigeria’s maritime future, ensuring its ports shine as beacons of progress and opportunity in Africa and beyond.
*Okanga writes from Abuja
society
Nigerian Prophet Begs Federal Government to Stop Killing of Christians, Backs Tinubu’s Second Term
Nigerian Prophet Begs Federal Government to Stop Killing of Christians, Backs Tinubu’s Second Term
Abuja – Rev Prophet Dr Hungbenu Michael Olusegun, Founder of Celestrial Deliverance Church of Christ in Zhidu Village, Abuja, has made an emotional appeal to the Federal Government to stop the killing of Christians across Nigeria while also throwing his weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in office.
Speaking from his Abuja headquarters, the Prophet declared that leadership is a continuum and that Nigeria’s ongoing reforms require stability and time to bear fruit. He said, “Politics has nothing to do with religion. The ballot box is not the altar. Whether you are from the East, the North, the West, or the Yoruba community, we are one people under God.”
Rev Prophet Dr Hungbenu Michael Olusegun used the opportunity to make a special appeal to the Federal Government, saying, “I beg the Federal Government, in the name of God and for the sake of humanity: Please help stop the killing of Christians across this nation. From the villages to the cities, too much innocent blood has been shed. Targeted attacks on Christian communities must stop. We plead for stronger protection, justice for victims, and lasting peace.” He acknowledged the pain of insecurity, especially the killing of Christians and farmers across the Middle Belt and Northern Nigeria, but also noted verifiable security gains under President Tinubu including over 3,000 hostages rescued from bandits and terrorists in the last 12 months, deployment of new attack helicopters and surveillance drones to flashpoints, and a reduction in oil theft from over 400,000 barrels per day to under 200,000 barrels per day.
He said, “The issue is security, and security is everybody’s business. We cannot build a nation if our people are not safe. But we must also acknowledge progress.” He added that a second term would allow the administration to consolidate its security architecture rather than restarting with new leadership.
On economic reforms, Rev Prophet Dr Hungbenu Michael Olusegun argued that President Tinubu’s first term has witnessed the most audacious economic reforms in Nigeria’s recent history, including fuel subsidy removal saving the nation over ₦400 billion monthly, a unified exchange rate attracting over $2 billion in foreign portfolio inflows, the Student Loans Act benefiting over 100,000 students, and local government autonomy. He argued that no major economy in the world has successfully reversed course after landmark reforms within a single term, adding that abandoning the reform agenda now would plunge Nigeria back into uncertainty.
Rev Prophet Dr Hungbenu Michael Olusegun stressed that President Tinubu’s emergence broke a dangerous cycle, noting that Tinubu is the first Southern Muslim to lead Nigeria since 1993, balancing power after eight years of a Northern President. He pointed out that under Tinubu, the South holds the presidency of the Senate but the Speaker of the House is from the North-West. He urged, “Let the East join hands with the West. Let the North embrace the South. Let the Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, and all 250 plus tribes say: ‘Nigeria first.’”
Drawing comparisons to global examples such as India’s Narendra Modi, Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, and Indonesia’s Joko Widodo, the Prophet argued that second terms deliver long-term prosperity. He said, “Nigeria is not an exception. If we change leadership every four years, we will remain a building site forever.”
Rev Prophet Dr Hungbenu Michael Olusegun closed with a prayer and a charge: “Nigeria will only rise when we rise above division. I am not speaking as Ogu, Yoruba, Igbo, or Hausa. I speak as a Nigerian, and as a minister of the gospel of peace. God bless President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” He urged all Nigerians to pray for the nation, support security agencies, and give President Tinubu the opportunity to complete what he has started. The press release was issued on 20th April 2026 from his church in Zhidu Village behind Piwoyi Village off Lugbe Airport Road, FCT Abuja.
society
₦100 Million Bribe Offer Rejected As Police STS Operatives Expose Criminal Syndicate
₦100 Million Bribe Offer Rejected As Police STS Operatives Expose Criminal Syndicate
The Special Tactical Squad (STS) of the Nigeria Police Force has recorded a major breakthrough in its sustained crackdown on the vandalisation of critical national infrastructure, with the arrest of two notorious suspects and the recovery of railway materials valued at over ₦400,000,000.
Acting on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, to decisively tackle acts of economic sabotage, operatives of the Force Intelligence Department – Special Tactical Squad (FID-STS), under the leadership of ACP Victor Ogbeide Godfrey, executed a swift, intelligence-driven operation that led to the arrest of Chisom Goodnews (32) and Ahmed Adamu (22) on April 9, 2026, in Akwanga, Nasarawa State.
The suspects were intercepted while transporting vandalised railway infrastructure in a calculated attempt to evade detection. Recovered from them was a trailer truck with registration number KRB 355 SX, conveying railway tracks and sleepers weighing approximately 60 tonnes, cleverly concealed under sacks of groundnut shells. Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects are part of a well-coordinated syndicate responsible for the illegal removal and transportation of railway materials from Bauchi State to Ilorin, Kwara State, representing a significant threat to Nigeria’s transportation infrastructure.
Speaking on the operation, ACP Victor Ogbeide Godfrey revealed that in a desperate bid to compromise the officers and frustrate the arrest, the suspects offered a staggering sum of ₦100 million as a bribe to allow them passage with the illicit cargo. The offer was, however, outrightly rejected by the operatives, who remained resolute in the discharge of their duties. This firm stance underscores the Nigeria Police Force’s renewed commitment to professionalism, integrity, and its zero-tolerance policy towards corruption.
Further investigations are ongoing to apprehend the intended receiver of the stolen materials in Ilorin, as well as other members of the syndicate, while efforts are being intensified to recover additional exhibits linked to the criminal network.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has reiterated the Force’s unwavering resolve to bring all perpetrators of economic sabotage to justice, warning that acts of vandalisation of public assets will not be tolerated. He assured that all individuals found culpable will be made to face the full weight of the law.
society
Nigeria Police Initiative Targets Youth Vices As POCACOV Undertakes Strategic Visit To Cross River
Nigeria Police Initiative Targets Youth Vices As POCACOV Undertakes Strategic Visit To Cross River
As part of a two-day strategic working visit to Cross River State, the National Coordinator of POCACOV (Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices), SP Orvenonne Ikwen, Ph.D., embarked on a series of high-level engagements aimed at strengthening partnerships, deepening community participation, and advancing the non-kinetic approach to crime prevention across the state, in line with the vision of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, whose policing philosophy is rooted in community partnership, public trust, proactive engagement, and preventive policing aimed at building safer communities across Nigeria.
The visit commenced with a courtesy call on the Commissioner of Police, Cross River State Command, CP Rashid B. Afegbua, psc, mnips, who warmly received the National Coordinator and commended the POCACOV initiative for its significant impact in tackling cultism, bullying, drug abuse, gangsterism, school violence, and other social vices affecting young people and vulnerable groups. He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to supporting proactive policing strategies that promote trust, restore public confidence, and ensure lasting peace and security across Cross River State.
In continuation of the visit, the National Coordinator paid a courtesy visit to the Honourable Commissioner for Youth Development, Barr. Ijom Ukam, who described the POCACOV visit as timely and highly strategic, especially during what he referred to as a volatile and transitional period in society. He emphasized that the engagement reinforces the collective responsibility of government, institutions, and citizens in addressing the growing concerns of social vices among young people.
According to him, “The primary responsibility of every government is the security of its citizens,” noting that the adoption of the non-kinetic approach by the Nigeria Police Force through POCACOV demonstrates that the Police truly care about the future of Nigerian youths. He commended the Nigeria Police Force for embracing preventive policing and pledged the Ministry’s full support for POCACOV activities in Cross River State.
Barr. Ijom Ukam further declared that POCACOV has come to stay in Cross River State and assured the National Coordinator of sustained collaboration in mobilizing young people, creating awareness, and implementing youth-focused interventions that will help eradicate crime and social vices from the state.
As part of the media advocacy component of the visit, SP Orvenonne Ikwen also visited prominent radio stations including HIT FM and Sparkling FM, where she engaged media stakeholders on the need for continuous public sensitization, youth mentorship, and strategic communication in crime prevention. She stressed the critical role of the media in shaping positive narratives, promoting civic responsibility, and supporting national efforts to discourage cultism and other harmful behaviors among youths.
The National Coordinator also met with content creators and digital influencers in the state, including popular creative personality MC Koboko, to strengthen collaboration in using social media and entertainment platforms as tools for advocacy and youth engagement. She emphasized that content creators remain powerful voices in shaping public perception and influencing positive behavioral change among young people. She called for stronger partnerships with creative stakeholders to amplify the message of POCACOV and promote peace, responsibility, and social values across communities.
She noted that POCACOV remains a major strategic initiative of the Nigeria Police Force designed to complement law enforcement with prevention-focused solutions, reflecting the IGP’s vision of policing that is rooted in public trust, inclusiveness, and strong community partnership.
The working visit further strengthened collaboration between POCACOV, the Cross River State Police Command, the Ministry of Youth Development, educational institutions, religious leaders, traditional institutions, parents, and the media, all united in the shared goal of building safer communities and securing a better future for the younger generation.
The visit stands as another strong testament to the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to preventive policing, youth empowerment, and sustainable peacebuilding through stakeholder engagement and strategic partnerships.
-
news4 months agoWHO REALLY OWNS MONIEPOINT? The $290 Million Deal That Sold Nigeria’s Top Fintech to Foreign Interests
-
celebrity radar - gossips3 months agoDr. Chris Okafor Returns with Power and Fire of the Spirit -Mounts Grace Nation Altar with Fresh Anointing and Restoration Grace on February 1, 2026
-
celebrity radar - gossips6 months agoEnd of an Era: Nigeria Mourns Evangelist Dr. Uma Ukpai, 80
-
celebrity radar - gossips4 months agoProphet Kingsley Aitafo Releases 2026 Prophecy: ‘Nigeria Will Rise, but the World Must Prepare for Turbulence’






