The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, has reported that Nigeria’s exports grew by more than 25 per cent in the last two years, attributing the growth to the Federal Government’s economic reforms and improved collaboration with port terminal operators.
Dantsoho, who made this disclosure while speaking at the ongoing Annual World Ports Conference in London, organised by the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH), explained that the boost in export trade was not limited to oil and gas exports.
According to him, manufactured goods and agricultural commodities, including cocoa and cashew, exports also recorded significant growth.
He said: “For us in Nigeria, the most important thing is that we are seeing growth as a result of the policies we are implementing. Statistically, exports from Nigeria in the last two years have increased by 25 per cent.
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“These exports are not mainly oil and gas. We are also recording growth in manufacturing and agriculture, with raw materials like cocoa and cashew experiencing increased volumes. This is to the credit of the partnership between the NPA and major terminal operators, particularly APM Terminals”, the industry expert added.
Dantsoho said the authority had put measures in place to sustain the export growth, including the establishment of Export Processing Terminals across the country, adding that currently it has about four such terminals, established in collaboration with terminal operators, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and other relevant government agencies, to facilitate the country’s merchandize trade.
Specifically, he explained that the reform initiative had helped in ensuring that export cargo processing is completed locally before shipment, thereby reducing challenges relating to standards and compliance in international markets.
In addition, the NPA boss maintained that Nigeria was now better positioned to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) through the reforms introduced by the present administration, which had improved investor confidence and enhanced Nigeria’s capacity to expand trade relations with other African countries.
Dantosho further clarified: “Nigeria’s economy is very strong now because of our President’s reforms, which everyone can testify are attracting investors to the country. Because of that, we are leading other African countries to ensure that we export and trade among ourselves in a free and fair manner. Between Nigeria and Morocco, for example, there is a lot of exchange of ideas because Morocco is now a hub for the manufacturing of electric cars and other smaller cars.”
While attributing Nigeria’s improved standing in global port performance rankings in which two of the Nigerian ports was ranked among the top 20 in the latest World Bank global ports ranking, to the reforms, he said the achievement reflected improved efficiency, technology adoption and stronger collaboration with international port stakeholders.
Dantsoho added that the NPA would continue to strengthen its collaboration with major maritime stakeholders in Morocco and South Africa to consolidate the gains recorded thus far in the sector to boost its revenue generation and operational standards.
On the maritime industry revenue accruals, the NPA boss said: “We have experienced a lot of increases in volumes and revenue generated by the ports across Nigeria, and it is strictly because of the collaboration between us and other countries. As a matter of fact, efficiency in Nigerian ports is far better now than those of other West African countries.
“As President of the Association of Ports in West and Central Africa, we have the same dashboard to know the performance of other ports in the region. There has also been improvement in Tanzania and Kenya.
“It is a very good feeling that this collaboration is getting us the desired results. We have to consolidate and ensure that we continue to progress without allowing distractions to slow us down”, Dantsoho added.
Similarly, on infrastructure assets, he hinted that the Federal Government was planning a $1 billion investment to expand and modernise the Apapa Port with a view to strengthening the nation’s ports’ operations over the medium to long term period.
Photo Caption
L-R: Chief Human Resources Development, UNCTAD, Mr Mark Assaf; VP IAPH/Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho; President, Director, PT Pelabuhan Indonesia, Mr Achmad Muchtasyar; Chief Executive, Africa & Europe, APM Terminals, Mr Igor Van den Essen’ at the ongoing World Ports Conference in London
