NPA Deploys Export Terminals, Dedicated Cargo Corridors to Boost Non-Oil Exports – Dantsoho
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has deployed Export Processing Terminals and dedicated cargo transit corridors as part of efforts to eliminate logistics bottlenecks, reduce export cargo turnaround time and strengthen Nigeria’s non-oil export trade.
The Managing Director of NPA, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, disclosed this while addressing participants at the 40th edition of the Lagos International Trade Fair, where he highlighted the Authority’s ongoing reforms to improve port efficiency and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in international trade.
Dantsoho explained that the Export Processing Terminals had been designated and integrated to provide one-stop processing, documentation and pre-gating services for export cargo, thereby reducing turnaround time and streamlining export operations.
He added that the Authority had also operationalised dedicated transit corridors in collaboration with security and traffic management agencies to ensure the seamless movement of export cargo to the ports.
According to him, the initiatives are aimed at strengthening non-oil export logistics, empowering small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) to expand their businesses, improving the global competitiveness of Nigerian products and increasing the country’s foreign exchange earnings.
Describing non-oil exports as a national priority, the NPA boss stressed the need for Nigeria to accelerate economic diversification and transition from a predominantly consuming nation into a manufacturing and exporting powerhouse.
He maintained that the transformation of Nigeria’s maritime sector was not accidental but the outcome of deliberate policy implementation and strategic leadership.
Dantsoho noted that the NPA, as the gateway to the Nigerian economy, occupied a strategic position in connecting domestic businesses to international markets.
Speaking on the Authority’s infrastructure development agenda, he said its $1 billion Port Modernisation Drive was opening significant investment opportunities for local and international investors interested in participating in the transformation of Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure.
He identified the rehabilitation and expansion of port infrastructure across Apapa, Tin Can Island, Calabar, Rivers, Delta and Onne as major areas requiring strategic partnerships and private sector investment.
He also highlighted investment opportunities in digital and smart port solutions, including automated gates, Port Community Systems, Vessel Traffic Management Systems (VTMS) and artificial intelligence-driven logistics.
Other areas, according to him, include the development of dry ports and multimodal logistics infrastructure, such as inland container depots, rail-port connections and cold-chain systems.
Dantsoho further identified green port initiatives, including renewable energy, eco-friendly equipment and sustainable waste management, as key components of the modernisation programme, in line with global decarbonisation objectives.
He assured prospective investors of the Authority’s commitment to providing a transparent and business-friendly operating environment, backed by regulatory stability and attractive investment returns.
The NPA chief said the ongoing modernisation programme, supported by the Federal Government and the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, would reposition Nigerian ports for improved operational efficiency, export-led economic growth and greater global competitiveness.
He urged participants, international trade delegations and investors at the Lagos International Trade Fair to take advantage of the investment opportunities in Nigeria’s Blue Economy.
He noted that the theme of the 40th edition of the fair, “40 Years of Trade, Growth and Global Connection,” aligned with the NPA’s mandate of connecting Nigerian businesses with international markets.
Dantsoho reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to sustaining Nigeria’s connection with the global economy through continuous port modernisation, improved trade facilitation and the development of an efficient maritime sector.
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