Port Manager, Lagos Ports Complex, Apapa
Charles Bamidele Okaga, Port Manager of Lagos Port Complex in Apapa has said that the port handled over 70,000 twenty foot equivalent unit (TEUs) of cargoes in 2023 which is higher than the 50,000 TEUs recorded by the port in 2022
Okaga who said the port is better positioned to support international trade within and outside Africa, disclosed that the management of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) is collaborating with sister government agencies and private sector operators to ensure the port meets users needs.
He added that export is a very critical element of the national economy, particularly with the government’s agenda of diversification of the economy to non-oil export and that that Nigeria’s largest port complex is ready to participate and contribute in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
According to Okaga, the management of NPA has put measures in place to remove all difficulties associated with import and export through the port including removing human element challenges facing the electronic call up system for trucks entering the port complex
The port manager explained further that the port utilises intermodal means to convey goods either by road, rail or barges and serves as a one stop area of transit for foreign trade.
Okaga : “Another thing that we have done is encouraging the movement of export by all modes.For 2022 we had 38,000 by road, in 2023 we had 55,000 by road. In 2022, by rail we had about 5,000 and in 2023 we had 8,000 by rail . In 2022 we had 10,000 barges and 8,309 barges in 2023.
“That is 20,000 increase achieved through the enabling environment created in partnership with Customs and other government agencies including major stakeholders on how to improve the speed of export business, shipping lines, terminal operators and others.These are the factors that have culminated into this growth that we have recorded and I am sure that we can do much better in 2024
“Export is a very critical element of the national economy, particularly with the government’s agenda of diversification of the economy to the non-oil export.The nature of export we are talking about this time around is to grow the volume of locally produced goods and services that are exported through the ports.
“With ports being a major platform for trade facilitation, what the management has done, is to continually develop policies that will support the requirement of the executive order 001 which requires that every port should have dedicated facilities for export.In this wise, the management of Nigerian Ports Authority at the national level developed the concept of export processing terminals.
“The reason for the development of export processing terminals is to have enough dedicated areas where you can do product reception, consolidation, quality control and the relevant licencing and permit by government agencies to clear them for export.It was also aimed to reduce drastically the volume of Nigeria export that are rejected abroad.It is to put goods and services in consumable condition by the time it gets to their port of destination.
“When you have a facility that encourages this type of trade facilitation principles, it is bound to have its direct impact on the overall trade volume of the country.As we speak in 2022 for instance, we had a total of about 50,000 TEUs of export containers.Whereas in 2023 we had over 70,000 TEUs and that is definitely an increase in the volume of export that is leaving the country through Lagos Port Complex alone.
“Another thing that we have done is encouraging the movement of export by all modes.For 2022 we had 38,000 by road, in 2023 we had 55,000 by road. In 2022, by rail we had about 5,000 and in 2023 we had 8,000 by rail . In 2022 we had 10,000 barges and 8,309 barges in 2023.
“That is 20,000 increase achieved through the enabling environment created in partnership with Customs and other government agencies including major stakeholders on how to improve the speed of export business, shipping lines, terminal operators and others.These are the factors that have culminated into this growth that we have recorded and I am sure that we can do much better in 2024” Okaga said
