NPA Unveils Major Investment Plan for Eastern Ports to Drive Cargo Traffic
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has announced a significant investment initiative aimed at rehabilitating and upgrading key Eastern ports, including Onne, Warri, and Calabar. This strategic move is designed to enhance cargo traffic and improve operational capacity, as part of a broader effort to boost Nigeria's non-oil exports and economic competitiveness.
Comprehensive Strategy for Infrastructure and Export Growth
Speaking at the 37th Enugu International Trade Fair, NPA Managing Director Abubakar Dantsoho detailed the authority's comprehensive strategy. This plan focuses on infrastructure renewal, simplification of export processes, and the full automation of port operations. Dantsoho emphasized that these measures are crucial for repositioning Nigeria's port system to better connect local producers, particularly Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs), to global markets.
Dantsoho highlighted the importance of Enugu as a commercial gateway to the South-East hinterland, noting its vast opportunities for export expansion, especially in agro-allied products. He commended the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture for maintaining the trade fair as a vital platform for enterprise development and international trade engagement.
Export Process Terminals to Streamline Operations
Central to the NPA's reform agenda is the establishment of Export Process Terminals (EPTs). These terminals are designed to simplify and streamline export procedures for Nigerian goods, addressing longstanding bottlenecks that have hindered export competitiveness. Dantsoho explained that the EPTs serve as a one-stop shop for all export-related activities, including:
- Cargo consolidation and stuffing
- Documentation and packaging
- Certification and onward shipment
This initiative aims to eliminate duplications and bureaucratic overlaps that previously made Nigerian exports less competitive. Additionally, the EPTs will be linked to Domestic Export Warehouses in collaboration with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council and other partners, strengthening port-hinterland connectivity and opening up export opportunities for businesses nationwide.
Automation and Technical Support for Sustainable Growth
To further enhance efficiency and align with the Federal Government's ease-of-doing-business agenda, the NPA is pursuing full automation of its processes through the implementation of the National Single Window (NSW) system. Dantsoho stated that this move will eliminate human interface, which often encourages underhand dealings, thereby promoting transparency and operational efficiency.
In addition to infrastructure upgrades, the NPA is providing bespoke technical guidance to proponents of deep-seaports. This support is intended to drive vessel and cargo traffic to the Eastern flank on a sustainable basis, ensuring long-term growth and development.
Dantsoho assured stakeholders of the authority's readiness to partner with investors and exporters, urging them to leverage NPA's platforms and services. He stressed that trade remains one of the most effective tools for achieving Nigeria's economic aspirations, and the NPA is committed to removing barriers that have historically impeded export competitiveness.
