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NPA Targets Export Bottlenecks To Boost Non-Oil Forex Inflows
NPA Targets Export Bottlenecks To Boost Non-Oil Forex Inflows
NPA plans to remove logistics bottlenecks and expand export channels to support non-oil exports and foreign exchange inflows.
Inland dry ports and dedicated export processing terminals are being positioned to bring port services closer to exporters across the country.
NPA says improved logistics will help agricultural, manufacturing and solid-mineral exporters compete more effectively in global markets.
Channel
October 05, () – The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has concluded plans to intensify efforts to remove bottlenecks affecting Nigeria’s non-oil exports as part of measures to expand export channels, improve cargo processing and increase foreign exchange inflows into the economy.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the NPA, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, disclosed this while speaking at the authority’s Special Day at the 21st Abuja International Trade Fair, organised by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry under the theme, “Resilient Trade, Taxation, and the Economy.”
Dantsoho said the authority was strengthening port infrastructure and extending maritime logistics into the hinterland to enable exporters to access international markets more efficiently.
According to him, building a resilient trade environment requires efficient infrastructure, predictable fiscal frameworks and seamless supply chains capable of connecting producers across the country to global markets.
He said Nigeria could no longer rely heavily on imports and oil revenues for economic growth, stressing that expanding non-oil exports and integrating businesses into global value chains were critical to achieving sustainable growth.
Inland Dry Ports To Bring Export Services Closer
Dantsoho said the recent Federal Government approval transferring the management and development functions of Inland Dry Ports (IDPs) to the NPA would help bring port services closer to businesses operating far from the coastal ports.
He said the development would particularly benefit exporters in northern and central Nigeria, including Abuja, by reducing the need to transport raw commodities to coastal ports before completing port clearance and documentation.
“By bringing the 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 added that the authority had also introduced targeted interventions to address bottlenecks confronting non-oil exporters, including the operationalisation of dedicated export processing terminals.
According to him, the terminals are designed as one-stop centres where activities such as sorting, packaging, quality certification and customs documentation can be completed before export cargo is moved to port terminals.
Dantsoho said the measures were already supporting increased export activity, particularly in agricultural commodities and solid minerals, while helping Nigerian producers meet international delivery schedules.
He identified cocoa, sesame seeds, cashew nuts and hibiscus among agricultural products that had recorded increased export activity over the past two years, alongside solid minerals.
NPA Seeks Stronger Non-Oil Export Base
Dantsoho said more efficient export channels would help improve foreign buyers’ confidence in Nigerian products while supporting increased foreign exchange inflows into the domestic economy.
He urged businesses in agriculture, manufacturing, processing and solid minerals to take advantage of the emerging export infrastructure and expand their presence in international markets.
“To our prospective businessmen and entrepreneurs, now is the time to embrace export trade”, he said.
He said integrating inland dry ports with seaport operations would make exporting from different parts of the country more accessible and commercially viable.
Dantsoho assured exporters that the NPA remained committed to providing efficient port services and extending maritime logistics to different regions of the country.
He said the authority’s objective was to create a trade-enabling environment where exporters, regardless of their size or location, could access reliable logistics support and compete more effectively in global markets.
The NPA boss said a resilient Nigerian economy depended on a thriving trade ecosystem, adding that the authority would continue to support initiatives aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s position in international trade.
Also speaking, the Director General of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Agabaidu Jideani, commended the NPA for identifying with the 21st Abuja International Trade Fair.
Jideani described the authority’s participation as an opportunity to deepen understanding and promote dialogue between the maritime sector and the broader business community.