Eromosele Abiodun
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr Abubakar Dantsoho has referred to as for stronger cybersecurity measures, regional intelligence sharing and customary digital requirements throughout African ports to thwart the rising menace of cyberattacks to port operations, worldwide commerce and financial stability.
Speaking on the African Ports Conference in Casablanca, Morocco, Dantsoho cited cyber incidents involving South Africa’s Transnet, the Port of Nagoya in Japan and DP World terminals in Australia as examples of how assaults on digital infrastructure might disrupt port operations and worldwide commerce.
Dantsoho, who can also be the President of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), warned that the growing adoption of digital applied sciences and synthetic intelligence (AI) in port operations might expose African international locations to vital financial disruptions if cybersecurity isn’t handled as an integral a part of maritime safety.
He mentioned cyberattacks on port infrastructure had been now not merely data expertise issues however threats able to interrupting commerce, disrupting cargo motion and undermining the reliability of maritime provide chains.
“In July 2021, a cyberattack on Transnet forced South Africa’s container terminals to declare force majeure. In 2023, cyber incidents disrupted the Port of Nagoya and DP World terminals across Australia for days. These were not merely IT problems. They were interruptions to trade,” he mentioned.
He harassed that the digital transformation of African ports have to be accompanied by ample safety preparations to shield operational programs, cargo data, income assortment and the trade of information amongst port stakeholders.
According to him, though synthetic intelligence can enhance effectivity and decision-making, cybersecurity stays basic to making certain that ports can proceed to perform throughout makes an attempt to compromise their programs.
“AI can help a port work more intelligently, but cybersecurity protects its ability to work at all,” Dantsoho mentioned.
Dantsoho who’s the Vice President of International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) African Reguon, warned that the rising interconnection of port programs, authorities companies, transport firms, terminal operators and different service suppliers might create vulnerabilities if acceptable safeguards weren’t applied.
Dantsoho significantly cautioned towards permitting digital platforms designed to simplify commerce procedures to turn out to be single factors of failure able to disrupting total port communities.
“A single window must not become a single point of failure,” he mentioned.
He outlined 5 ideas for strengthening cybersecurity at Nigerian ports, together with integrating cyber safety into broader port safety preparations, separating operational expertise from administrative networks, establishing safety necessities for related companions, testing restoration programs and coaching personnel to determine and report threats.
He mentioned cybersecurity needs to be handled with the identical seriousness as bodily port safety, with measures aligned with related International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) necessities and International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements.
“Treat cybersecurity as part of port security, alongside physical security and relevant ISPS and IMO requirements,” he mentioned.
The NPA boss additionally referred to as for a transparent separation between operational programs and administrative networks to scale back the danger of an assault on one system spreading to important port infrastructure.
He urged port authorities to be certain that terminal operators, expertise suppliers and different related companions complied with agreed cybersecurity requirements.
“Require connected partners to meet agreed security standards,” he mentioned, including that ports should put together examined backups, rehearse restoration procedures and set up sensible options for sustaining operations when digital programs fail.
Dantsoho emphasised that having a written restoration plan was inadequate with out proof that it might work underneath actual working situations.
“A recovery plan is not proven because it exists. It is proven because it works,” he mentioned.
He additional recognized human capability as an essential part of cybersecurity, noting that port staff have to be geared up to recognise suspicious actions, report threats and reply appropriately to safety incidents.
The NPA managing director mentioned the success of digital transformation would rely not solely on buying expertise but additionally on creating the experience and institutional self-discipline required to function and shield it.
Beyond cybersecurity, Dantsoho mentioned synthetic intelligence might assist African ports handle longstanding operational challenges, together with vessel ready instances, cargo delays, inefficient truck actions, income leakages and sudden tools failures.
He argued that the worth of a wise port needs to be measured by the enhancements it delivers to port customers and nationwide economies quite than the quantity of expertise deployed.
“A smart African port is not defined by how much technology it buys. It is defined by the performance it delivers. How quickly are vessels served? How long does cargo remain? What does it cost to move a container? Are systems reliable, and is revenue properly accounted for? These are the measures that give meaning to innovation,” he mentioned.
On income assurance, he mentioned AI might examine cargo declarations, precise cargo actions and relevant fees to determine inconsistencies for investigation with out unnecessarily obstructing legit commerce.
“The technology could also support targeted cargo-risk assessments, identify unusual vessel behaviour and facilitate predictive maintenance by detecting equipment deterioration before failures disrupt port operations,” he mentioned.
However, he cautioned port authorities towards adopting expertise with out clearly outlined goals and measurable outcomes.
Highlighting Nigeria’s expertise, Dantsoho mentioned the nation was laying the foundations for extra clever port operations by investments in digital coordination, infrastructure modernisation and improved site visitors administration.
