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<p>Between 2000–2020, African ports have undergone extensive reforms (some of which are ongoing) with threefold objectives: 1) To increase operational efficiency and effectiveness; 2) To increase private sector participation while reducing the public sector’s financial burden; and 3) To improve overall port performance. This paper poses three questions: How have these reforms performed? What can be learnt from them? And how should these lessons influence future reforms? The paper applies a New Institutional Economics theoretical lens supported by the grounded-theory method and elite informant interviews. It focuses on reforms implemented at Nigeria’s Lagos and Tincan Island port complexes, Kenya’s Mombasa port, and Namibia’s Walvis Bay port. The paper affirms that the quality of port institutions is essential for reform success. Specifically, Nigeria’s ports are identified as having weak, even compromised institutions that have contributed to its reforms underperforming their initial expectations. Kenya’s Mombasa port despite improvements in institutional quality, continues to be undermined by political interference in the port authority. Namibia’s Walvis Bay port has relatively robust institutions and a port authority that is well-shielded from political interference. The paper identifies that while the landlord model remains the preferred port governance model, a context-sensitive approach is needed for its successful implementation in African ports. This has implications for the implementation of other port policies driven by multilateral institutions or developed countries, and which could significantly impact ports in developing countries. To strengthen the implementation of future port reforms in Africa, the paper identifies the need to reform institutional structures such as port authorities and to provide them with adequate resources including financial means. It also identifies that institutional plasticity, whereby a port evolves incrementally in a desired direction without breaking out of its existing mould, can provide a pragmatic, alternative approach for port reform.</p>

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Towards a next phase of port reform in Africa: an analysis of context, drivers, performance and options

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月18日

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  • Adekola Oyenuga,
  • Michaël Dooms,
  • Christa Sys,
  • Patrick Verhoeven

摘要

Between 2000–2020, African ports have undergone extensive reforms (some of which are ongoing) with threefold objectives: 1) To increase operational efficiency and effectiveness; 2) To increase private sector participation while reducing the public sector’s financial burden; and 3) To improve overall port performance. This paper poses three questions: How have these reforms performed? What can be learnt from them? And how should these lessons influence future reforms? The paper applies a New Institutional Economics theoretical lens supported by the grounded-theory method and elite informant interviews. It focuses on reforms implemented at Nigeria’s Lagos and Tincan Island port complexes, Kenya’s Mombasa port, and Namibia’s Walvis Bay port. The paper affirms that the quality of port institutions is essential for reform success. Specifically, Nigeria’s ports are identified as having weak, even compromised institutions that have contributed to its reforms underperforming their initial expectations. Kenya’s Mombasa port despite improvements in institutional quality, continues to be undermined by political interference in the port authority. Namibia’s Walvis Bay port has relatively robust institutions and a port authority that is well-shielded from political interference. The paper identifies that while the landlord model remains the preferred port governance model, a context-sensitive approach is needed for its successful implementation in African ports. This has implications for the implementation of other port policies driven by multilateral institutions or developed countries, and which could significantly impact ports in developing countries. To strengthen the implementation of future port reforms in Africa, the paper identifies the need to reform institutional structures such as port authorities and to provide them with adequate resources including financial means. It also identifies that institutional plasticity, whereby a port evolves incrementally in a desired direction without breaking out of its existing mould, can provide a pragmatic, alternative approach for port reform.