Charles Okaga, former General Manager of Operations at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), has been appointed as a Technical Adviser to Adegboyega Oyetola, the Minister for Marine and Blue Economy.
Okaga, who also served as the immediate past Port Manager of the Lagos Port Complex Apapa—the nation’s busiest seaport—is widely credited for his pivotal role in decongesting Lagos port access roads after over a decade of crippling traffic gridlock that severely impacted the port industry.
His tenure at the Apapa port saw an unprecedented level of stakeholder engagement with port operators, service providers, and users, fostering significant progress within the port community.
In recognition of his outstanding performance in traffic management and efforts to enhance the ease of doing business, Okaga received multiple unsolicited awards from various industry groups, including the media, operators, anti-graft agencies, and labour unions.
With a seven-year tenure as Principal Manager, Operations at NPA, Okaga distinguished himself in port concession oversight, joint venture partnerships, labour relations, and mediation, maintaining a consistent trajectory of excellence.
Additionally, his contributions to boosting export cargo shipments through policy reforms have earned him accolades from industry stakeholders, who describe his appointment as a perfect fit—”a square peg in a square hole.”