PMAWCA scribe assures of stronger ties among seaports In West, Central Africa

Abiola Seun

The Secretary-General of Ports Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), Jean Marie-Koffi has promised to foster better ties among its 22 member nations.

Koffi, of the Port of Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, who took over as the new scribe of the association in Lagos at a brief handing over ceremony held at the association’s Headquarters in Lagos said that no one nation can achieve a seamless port operations without understanding the emerging trend in the sector.

The new Secretary General who promised to consolidate on the gains of his predecessor, Augustin Fatondji of Benin Republic noted that, PMAWCA is an example of a regional co-operation which would help member nations to share information that would help grow the region economy.

He also promised to leverage from deliberate government policies of member nations aimed at improving ports in the region.

“Successful implementation of the Code of Conduct is expected to stimulate economic development in the member states, develop sustainable port operatiins and promote the development of the maritime sector.

“Going forward, PMAWCA will build on what my predecessor had done and create a network for sharing port and maritime security information, intelligence gathering and information sharing as the Association will seek to contribute towards the wider effort to strengthen maritime security” he added
Speaking further he said that the future of the development of the region lies in the strengthening of its multi-modal infrastructure systems to ensure the networking of the ports to the hinterland, where massive natural and man-made wealth in resources is generated.
He said tgat without this coordinated linkage , the targets for growth will remain a mirage while the region standards of living will continue to remain at globally abysmal levels .

Speaking at the ceremony, the out gone Secretary General, Augustin Fatondji, said that on assumption of office about a year ago that he set his mind to achieving three set objectives which include efficiency and humility.
He noted that the PMAWCA election contested by 17 countries held at the just-concluded 40th Council Meeting of the association in Lome, Togo.
He said that Marie-Koffi defeated two other contestants, Iliyasu Idrisu from the Port of Douala, Cameroon and Semie Pere from Port of Togo.
He said that the new secretary-general would serve for the next four years in Lagos, headquarters of the association.
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) Hadiza Bala-Usman, congratulated the newly-elected secretary-general on his election victory.
Usman who was represented at the ocassion by the General Manager, MD’s office, Del Chinwe Abama assured the new PMAWCA boss of maximum cooperation by the authority, saying that Nigeria was now his new home and NPA his landlord.
He said that NPA would give him all the necessary support to advance the work of PMAWCA and enhance the fortunes of the Port Industry in the sub-region.