By Mercy Aikoye
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has moved to decentralise export processing and bring port services closer to producers in the hinterland as part of efforts to increase non-oil exports and boost foreign exchange earnings.
The NPA Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, disclosed this at the NPA Special Day of the 21st Abuja International Trade Fair, organised by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) in Abuja.
Dantsoho said the recent transfer of the management and development of Inland Dry Ports (IDPs) to the NPA would enable businesses in northern and central Nigeria to access port services without first transporting their commodities to coastal ports.
He said the development would reduce logistics challenges faced by exporters, particularly those dealing in agricultural commodities and solid minerals, while making export activities more efficient and commercially viable.
According to him, the initiative would also strengthen the connection between production centres and international markets by extending maritime logistics into the hinterland.
“By bringing Inland Dry Ports under the operational purview of the NPA, exporters in northern and central Nigeria, including right here in Abuja, no longer need to move raw commodities to coastal ports before undergoing port clearance and documentation,” he said.
The NPA boss said the authority had also operationalised dedicated Export Processing Terminals to tackle delays associated with the preparation of export cargo.
He explained that the terminals provide one-stop facilities for activities including sorting, packaging, quality certification and customs documentation before cargo is moved to the seaports.
Dantsoho said the measures were already contributing to increased export activities, particularly in commodities such as cocoa, sesame seeds, cashew nuts and hibiscus, as well as solid minerals.
He said improving the reliability of Nigeria’s export supply chain would strengthen the confidence of foreign buyers, enable Nigerian businesses to meet international delivery schedules and ultimately increase foreign exchange inflows.
The NPA chief urged businesses in agriculture, manufacturing, processing and solid minerals to take advantage of the emerging infrastructure and expand their participation in international trade.
“To our prospective businessmen and entrepreneurs, now is the time to embrace export trade,” he said.
He said Nigeria’s economic resilience could no longer depend predominantly on oil revenues and imports, stressing that a stronger non-oil export sector was essential to sustainable economic growth.
Dantsoho said the NPA would continue to invest in port infrastructure and extend maritime logistics to different parts of the country to create a trade environment where businesses could compete more effectively in global markets.
Meanwhile, the ACCI has called for stronger collaboration with the NPA to improve trade facilitation and deepen the connection between the maritime sector and businesses in the Federal Capital Territory.
The ACCI Director-General, Agabaidu Jideani, said closer engagement between the Chamber and the NPA would help businesses better understand port procedures, trade facilitation initiatives and opportunities within the maritime sector.
Jideani said the efficiency and competitiveness of Nigerian ports had direct implications for importers, exporters, manufacturers, distributors and logistics operators.
He said the Chamber was prepared to work with the NPA through policy dialogues, business forums, sensitisation programmes and capacity-building initiatives to address challenges affecting businesses.
According to him, stronger collaboration between government agencies and the organised private sector remained critical to improving the ease of doing business, strengthening supply chains and increasing Nigeria’s participation in regional and international trade.
Jideani said the Abuja International Trade Fair provided an important platform for businesses, investors, government agencies and other stakeholders to exchange ideas, establish business connections and explore new markets.
