The Federal Government has urged West and Central African nations to unite for the success and gains of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Speaking during the closing ceremony of the 43rd Council and 18th Managing Directors’ Roundtable of the Port Management Association of West & Central Africa (PMAWCA) last week, Magdalene Ajani, permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, said one Africa is possible if all participating countries decide to work together.
“We can only make progress when we work together, share experiences and best practices among ourselves,” she said.
Stressing the importance of the PMAWCA conference in reviewing possibilities for ports and economies under AfCFTA, Ajani encouraged participating nations to turn discussions into actionable plans for growth.
She assured other African nations that Nigeria, under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, would prioritise the development of the maritime sector.
Earlier, Mohammed Bello-Koko commended the collaborative efforts during the conference and highlighted the interconnectedness of West and Central African nations.
“Our geographical reality of interconnectedness and interdependence makes cooperation a necessary precondition for the collective advancement of our ports,” he said.
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Bello-Koko said the ideas generated from the conference would guide policy formulation and government actions toward AfCFTA implementation.
He specifically commended Martin Boguikouma, president of PMAWCA, Jean Marie Koffi, secretary general, and the team from the Nigerian Ports Authority for their exceptional work in organising the conference.
He expressed confidence that the convergence of West and Central African talent at the conference would provide direction to policy formulation and embolden government action toward AfCFTA implementation.
