The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has disclosed its investment in the rehabilitation of key eastern ports, including Onne, Warri and Calabar, to drive cargo traffic and improve capacity.

Managing Director of NPA, Abubakar Dantsoho, said in addition to the renewed investment in Eastern port infrastructure renewal, the authority would provide bespoke technical guidance to proponents of deep seaports in a bid to drive vessel and cargo traffic to the Eastern flank on a sustainable frequency.

Speaking at the 37th Enugu International Trade Fair, Dantsoho said the authority has rolled out a comprehensive strategy to boost Nigeria’s non-oil exports, anchored in infrastructure renewal, export process simplification and the full automation of port operations.

He said the authority is repositioning the nation’s port system to connect local producers, especially small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), to global markets.

Dantsoho highlighted the strategic importance of Enugu as a commercial gateway to the South-East hinterland, noting that its location presents vast opportunities for export expansion, particularly in agro-allied products.

The NPA boss commended the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture for sustaining the trade fair as a platform for enterprise development and international trade engagement.

He stressed that trade remains one of the most effective tools for achieving Nigeria’s economic aspirations, adding that the NPA is committed to removing longstanding bottlenecks that have hindered export competitiveness.

Central to the reform agenda is the establishment of Export Process Terminals (EPTs), designed to simplify and streamline export procedures for Nigerian goods.

“As some of us are aware, we established the export process terminals (EPTs) to simplify the hitherto burdensome process of exporting Nigerian goods,” Dantsoho said.

He explained that the terminals serve as a one-stop shop for all export-related activities, significantly reducing delays and inefficiencies.

“The EPTs were conceptualised to serve as a one-stop shop for cargo consolidation, stuffing, documentation, packaging, certification and onward shipment, thus eliminating the duplications and bureaucratic overlaps that previously rendered Nigerian exports uncompetitive,” Dantsoho explained.

Dantsoho added that the EPTs would be linked with domestic export warehouses in collaboration with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council and other partners to strengthen port-hinterland connectivity and open up export opportunities for businesses across the country.

He said 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. (The Guardian)

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