Dantsoho says dry ports, dedicated export terminals will bring port services closer to businesses and open more routes to global markets….
Nigeria is stepping up efforts to expand non-oil exports and increase foreign exchange earnings, as the Nigerian Ports Authority moves to tackle logistics bottlenecks that have continued to hinder exporters across the country.
The NPA said it is expanding export channels, improving cargo processing and extending maritime logistics into the hinterland to make it easier for Nigerian businesses to reach international markets.
The authority’s Managing Director, Abubakar Dantsoho, disclosed this during the NPA’s special day at the 21st Abuja International Trade Fair organised by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Dantsoho said Nigeria could no longer rely heavily on imports and crude oil revenues to sustain economic growth, stressing that stronger non-oil exports and greater integration of Nigerian businesses into global value chains were essential for long-term economic resilience.
According to him, the NPA is strengthening port infrastructure while developing logistics connections that will enable exporters outside coastal areas to move their goods to international markets more efficiently.
A major part of the strategy is the integration of inland dry ports into the NPA’s operations.
Dantsoho said the Federal Government’s recent approval transferring the management and development functions of Inland Dry Ports to the NPA would make port services more accessible to businesses operating far from Nigeria’s coastal ports.
He explained that exporters in northern and central Nigeria, including businesses in Abuja, would no longer have to move raw commodities to coastal ports before completing key port clearance and documentation processes.
The move, he said, would reduce the logistical burden on exporters and make it easier for businesses located inland to participate in international trade.
The NPA is also deploying dedicated export processing terminals designed to address some of the delays faced by non-oil exporters.
The terminals provide facilities where activities such as sorting, packaging, quality certification and customs documentation can be completed before export cargo is transferred to the port terminals.
Dantsoho said the approach was already supporting increased export activity, particularly in agricultural commodities and solid minerals, while helping Nigerian producers meet delivery timelines demanded by international buyers.
The NPA chief identified cocoa, sesame seeds, cashew nuts and hibiscus among agricultural commodities that have recorded increased export activity over the past two years.
He said improving the efficiency of export channels would not only help Nigerian producers reach more markets but also strengthen the confidence of foreign buyers in locally produced goods.
More efficient logistics, he added, could translate into increased foreign exchange inflows as Nigerian businesses expand their presence in international markets.
Dantsoho therefore urged businesses operating in agriculture, manufacturing, processing and solid minerals to take advantage of the emerging export infrastructure.
“To our prospective businessmen and entrepreneurs, now is the time to embrace export trade,” he said.
He assured exporters that the NPA would continue to improve port services and extend maritime logistics to different parts of the country.
The authority, he said, is working towards an environment where businesses, regardless of their size or location, can access reliable logistics and compete more effectively in global markets.
The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry is also pushing for closer cooperation with the ports authority, particularly on issues affecting businesses and trade facilitation.
ACCI Director-General, Agabaidu Jideani, called for stronger collaboration with the NPA to unlock investment opportunities, improve supply chains and strengthen the link between Nigeria’s maritime sector and the wider business community.
Jideani said the performance of the country’s ports has a direct impact on importers, exporters, manufacturers, distributors, logistics companies, retailers and other businesses across the economy.
He said closer engagement between the NPA and organised private sector would be important for improving the ease of doing business and strengthening Nigeria’s participation in domestic, regional and international trade.
According to him, ACCI is particularly interested in connecting businesses in the Federal Capital Territory to the wider national and international trade ecosystem.
The chamber, he said, could provide a platform for businesses to communicate their experiences and challenges directly to the NPA, while the authority could use such engagements to educate the private sector on port procedures, trade facilitation measures and opportunities within the maritime industry.
Jideani said ACCI was prepared to deepen its partnership with the NPA through policy discussions, business forums, sensitisation programmes and capacity-building initiatives.
The emerging partnership comes as Nigeria seeks to broaden its sources of foreign exchange and reduce its dependence on crude oil by creating a more efficient pathway for locally produced goods to reach international markets.
