The Director General of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho has warned that the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence, AI, in port operations could trigger significant economic disruptions across Africa amid rising cyberattacks targeting maritime infrastructure.
Dantsoho gave the warning at the recently concluded African Ports Conference in Casablanca, Morocco, according to a statement on Thursday.
Dantsoho said cyberattacks on ports could disrupt cargo handling, delay shipments and interrupt trade, exposing African economies to significant losses as port operators increasingly embrace digital technologies.
He called for stronger cybersecurity measures, regional intelligence sharing and common digital standards across African ports to mitigate emerging threats associated with digitalisation and AI adoption.
Citing previous cyber incidents that disrupted port operations in other parts of the world, the NPA chief stressed that attacks on maritime infrastructure could have consequences beyond information technology systems.
“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 added.
“AI can help a port work more intelligently, but cybersecurity protects its ability to work at all,” Dantsoho said.
Dantsoho said improved digital coordination and stronger cybersecurity safeguards would be essential to protecting port operations and sustaining trade as African countries expand their adoption of advanced technologies.
The warning comes amid growing reliance on digital systems to manage cargo movement, shipping documentation and other critical port activities, making cybersecurity an increasingly important component of maritime infrastructure protection.
AI adoption could trigger economic disruptions in African ports – Dantsoho