The European Union (EU) and its partners have committed €12 million to strengthen safety, security and operational performance across major sea ports in Lagos and other West and Central African countries. This investment comes under the Securing Corridors, Ports and Exchanges (SCOPE) Africa Project, a strategic initiative aimed at modernizing port operations along critical regional trade corridors.
In a statement issued on Friday, Mr. Modestus Chukwulaka, Press and Information Officer for the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said the project marks a major step towards boosting the resilience and competitiveness of African ports.
A Regional Effort to Enhance Maritime Security
The official launch of SCOPE Africa took place in Lomé, Togo, where over 100 participants—including port authorities, regional organisations, technical partners, and private-sector actors—convened for a two-day seminar.
Funded by the EU and implemented by Expertise France and Enabel, the four-year programme is designed to address persistent security challenges across ports that serve as gateways for billions of dollars in annual trade.
Chukwulaka described the initiative as a critical intervention that aligns with priority corridors identified by the African Union, regional bodies, and the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy.
Ports Benefiting from the SCOPE Africa Project
The beneficiary ports form part of key land and sea corridors central to West and Central Africa’s economic integration. They include:
- Lomé (Togo)
- Douala and Kribi (Cameroon)
- Praia (Cape Verde)
- Pointe-Noire (Republic of Congo)
- Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire)
- Libreville (Gabon)
- Monrovia (Liberia)
- Lagos (Nigeria)
- Dakar (Senegal)
These ports handle significant volumes of regional and international cargo, making them strategic focal points for enhancing maritime trade safety and efficiency.
Focus Areas: Compliance, Crisis Management & Professionalisation
During the launch seminar, stakeholders explored the project’s core objectives through general sessions, thematic panels, and practical case studies. Key focus areas include:
- ✓ Strengthening compliance with international maritime standards
- ✓ Enhancing crisis response and management capacities
- ✓ Professionalising and training port-sector stakeholders
Participants also took part in a technical visit to the Autonomous Port of Lomé, which provided firsthand insight into port safety and security mechanisms discussed during the sessions.
MoU Signed to Strengthen Maritime Training
One of the high points of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SCOPE Africa and the Regional Maritime University (RMU), Accra.
This agreement aims to deepen cooperation in maritime education, training, and professional development—further supporting the long-term sustainability of port reforms across the region.
Stakeholders Reaffirm Commitment to Safer African Ports
At the end of the seminar, delegates reaffirmed their readiness to collaborate closely under the SCOPE Africa framework. Their shared goal:
to deliver safer, more secure, and more efficient ports that support economic growth across the subregion.
The €12 million investment represents a significant vote of confidence in Africa’s maritime potential—and marks a new phase of strategic cooperation between the EU and countries across West and Central Africa.
