NPA warns cyberattacks could hit Nigerian ports as digital systems expand

The Nigerian Ports Authority has warned that rising cyberattacks on maritime infrastructure could disrupt cargo movement and international trade. NPA Managing Director Dr Abubakar Dantsoho said African ports must strengthen their defences as shipping, Customs and terminal systems become more connected.

Dantsoho spoke at the African Ports Conference in Casablanca, Morocco. He is also President of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa.

Why the risk is rising

Dantsoho said greater use of artificial intelligence and interconnected digital platforms is exposing ports to serious security vulnerabilities. He argued that cyberattacks are no longer isolated technology problems. They can paralyse maritime operations and disrupt international supply chains.

He cited previous incidents involving South Africa's Transnet, Japan's Port of Nagoya and DP World terminals in Australia. A July 2021 cyberattack forced Transnet's container terminals to declare force majeure. Separate incidents disrupted operations in Japan and Australia in 2023.

"These were not merely IT problems. They were interruptions to trade," Dantsoho said.

He warned that systems meant to simplify trade could become major weaknesses without safeguards. "A single window must not become a single point of failure," he cautioned.

The five priorities for Nigerian ports

Dantsoho listed five priorities: integrate cybersecurity into physical port security, separate operational systems from administrative networks, enforce security standards among technology partners, test recovery procedures and strengthen staff training.

He stressed that ports need reliable backup systems and practical alternatives during cyber incidents. "A recovery plan is not proven because it exists. It is proven because it works," he said.

Nigeria's port modernisation plan includes $1 billion for Apapa and Tin Can Island. Dantsoho said the investment creates an opportunity to build secure digital infrastructure and intelligent maintenance systems into port operations.

He also pointed to the National Single Window, the beta version of the Port Community System and the Eto electronic truck call-up platform as progress in digital coordination.

Cargo numbers and regional cooperation

Nigeria's cargo throughput rose by 24.8 per cent to 129.3 million metric tonnes in 2025, according to Dantsoho. Tin Can Island and Apapa ports ranked tenth and twelfth respectively among the world's most improved ports in the World Bank's Container Port Performance Index 2025.

Dantsoho called for stronger cooperation among African port authorities through cybersecurity intelligence sharing, common data standards and professional training. He proposed a PMAWCA working group on artificial intelligence and data governance to strengthen regional digital resilience.

He said technology investments must deliver measurable gains in cargo clearance, operational efficiency, revenue protection and trade costs. "The smart African port will not be imported. We will build it together," he declared.

The warning puts port security on the radar of Nigerian businesses that depend on imports and exports. Any cyber incident at Apapa, Tin Can Island or a linked Customs platform could slow cargo clearance and raise trade costs if backup systems are not tested.