The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has announced the introduction of its Export Process Terminals (EPTs) to simplify export processes at the ports to facilitate trade and attract more foreing investments into the country.
The Managing Director/CEO of NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, described the EPTs and other complementary techno-powered processes at the ports as a major initiative to support the government’s digital economy’s growth.
He explained: “The EPTs were conceptualized to serve as a one-stop-shop for cargo consolidation, stuffing, documentation, packaging, certification, and onward shipment through electronic call-up to the Ports in quick turnaround time.
“This eliminates the duplications and bureaucratic overlaps that previously rendered Nigerian exports uncompetitive in the international marketplace”, the industry expert added.
According to him, the EPTs will be linked with Domestic Export Warehouses (DEWs) in synergy with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and relevant partners to facilitate port-hinterland connectivity and create pathways for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) to play in the export value chain.
While restating the NPA management’s commitment to aligning the port processes with the ease of doing business orientation of the government, Dantsoho maintained that agency was “aggressively pursuing the full automation of all our processes and procedures through the Ports Community System (PCS), which lays the groundwork for the implementation of the National Single Window (NSW).
“The NSW is designed to connect all stakeholders in the trade value chain for seamless interaction at the push of a button.
“I have said all of these to show that the Nigerian Ports Authority has put measures in place to link value creators in the remotest part of the hinterland with the farthest clusters of demand anywhere on the globe.
“I want to warmly invite you to interact with our business development team at the NPA pavilion and to also visit our fully interactive online real-time website (link unavailable) to access our growth offerings,” he added.
