The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has disclosed its plans to link the Export Processing Terminals (EPTs) in Nigerian seaports with the Domestic Export Warehouses (DEWs) as part of its current measures to enhance the latter’s connectivity with the seaports and by implication, help in growing the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) sector in the country.
The Managing Director/CEO of the Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, while speaking at the 2024 Lagos International Trade Fair with the theme ‘Connecting Businesses, Creating Value’, restated the Authority’s commitment to the current efforts aimed at diversifying the economy by boosting non-oil exports.
While assuring that linking the EPTs with the warehouses will further boost the accessibility of the exports to the global market arena, he further disclosed that the linkage between the EPTs and the DEWs was being done in conjunction with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and other partners.
He elaborated: “As some us are aware, in our bid to contribute to the strengthening of the domestic economy through the promotion of balance of trade, we established the Export Process Terminal EPTs to simplify the hitherto burdensome process of exporting Nigerian products.
“The EPTs were conceptualised in partnership with the NEPC to serve as a one-stop-shop for the stuffing, packaging and certification of export-bound cargo in quick turnaround time by eliminating the duplication and bureaucratic overlaps that previously rendered the nation’s exports uncompetitive in the international marketplace.
“To facilitate seaport-hinterland connectivity and create pathways for the SMEs to play in the value chain, the EPTs are to be linked with Domestic Export Warehouses DEWs in synergy with the NEPC and relevant agencies and partners.
“To align with the ease of doing business orientation of the Federal Government, we are aggressively pursuing the full automation of 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 the global stratagem for delivering the greatest value with the greatest ease by connecting all stakeholders in the trade value chain for seamless interaction at the push of a button”, Dantsoho said.
The NPA boss also assured the Authority’s unrelenting in its pursuit of full automation of the nation’s seaport operational processes and procedures through the NPA’s pet project, the Port Community System (PCS), which is expected to provide the pathway for the implementation of the long awaited National Single Window NSW platform.
Dantsoho, who lauded the theme of the 2024 trade fair, pointed out that it was in line with NPA’s corporate aspirations, which aligns with the government’s policy towards economic diversification.
He said: “I have said all of these, to show that the theme of the year’s fair “Connecting Businesses, Creating Value” is very much in tandem with our corporate aspirations
“As a business-enabling agency of government, the theme of the year’s fair “Connecting Businesses, Creating Value” is very much in line with our corporate aspirations. Let me also assure every stakeholder that our doors are always open for partnerships even beyond this trade fair. I therefore want to warmly invite you to interact with our business development team at the NPA stand and to also visit our fully interactive online real -time website www.nigerianports.gov.ng to access our growth offerings.
“Let me further seize the occasion of “NPA’s Special Day” to invite the entire trading and investing public to explore vistas of opportunities present at the Nigerian Ports Authority”, he added.
