How NPA’s simplified export processes will benefit countries in West and Central Africa

Exports play a critical role in powering the nation’s economic growth, but what will be the key international markets of opportunity for Nigerian companies in the decades ahead?

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) simplified export processes offer some insights to guide the organized private sector.

In fact, guided by trade theory, the management team of NPA, led by Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, the Managing Director, has leveraged a comprehensive cross-country dataset to build “gravity models” to incorporate key factors that will drive the country’s exports in the nearest future.

SPONSOR AD

The simplified export processes will afford exporters the opportunity to take full advantage of export potential across West and Central Africa.

Speaking at the ‘NPA Special Day’ at the 36th Enugu International Trade Fair, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho implored the trading and investing public to explore the tailor-made simplified export processes and other vistas of opportunity present at the Nigerian Ports Authority.

The 36th Enugu International Trade Fair has as its theme: “Developing Nigeria’s Industrial Sector / SMEs for Economic Advancement and Global Recognition”.

According to him, the Authority in its bid to contribute to the strengthening of the domestic economy through the promotion of balance of trade, established the Export Process Terminal (EPTs) to simplify the hitherto burdensome process of exporting Nigerian goods, saying NPA 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.

He stated that as Nigeria’s foremost trade facilitation platform, the NPA is always proud to be associated with the noble cause that the Trade Fair represents, especially seeing that trade remains the most veritable tool for actualising most of our economic aspirations.

As the Chairman of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) and despite already having high levels of engagement with top players in the West and Central Africa, Dantsoho believes that there is still more room to grow Nigeria’s exports to these destinations.

The NPA boss believes that the Nigerian non-oil export sector is performing optimally, but that a lot still needs to be done with the current devaluation of the naira which makes it look bigger than it really is.

In fact, Nigeria earned N9.65 trillion from non-oil exports in 2024, representing a rise from N3.14 trillion recorded in 2023. In naira terms, the 2024 non-oil export value represents three times the 2023’s. This is according to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) recent report.

With Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) targeting rubber, palm oil, and seafoods in the south-south in the push to double non-oil exports in 2025, Dr. Dantsoho urged the organized private sector to expand their potentials to cover these areas.

Nigeria recorded $5.43bn in non-oil export in 2024 and has vowed to double the figure in 2025, thus hoping to hit above $10bn.

Speaking at the fair, the NPA helmsman assured stakeholders that the doors of NPA are always open for partnerships even beyond the trade fair. “I therefore 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 www.nigerianports.gov.ng to access our growth offerings.”

Dr Dantsoho explained that 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, thus eliminating the duplications and bureaucratic overlaps that previously rendered Nigerian exports uncompetitive in the international marketplace.

He said, “To facilitate Port-Hinterland connectivity and create pathways for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) to play in the export value chain, the EPTs are to be linked with Domestic Export Warehouses (DEWs) in synergy with the NEPC and relevant partners.

“To align with the ease of doing business orientation of the Federal Government and the theme of the year’s fair “Developing Nigeria’s Industrial Sector / SMEs for Economic Advancement and Global Recognition” we are aggressively simplifying our export processes to enable made-in-Nigeria goods transit through our Ports as seamlessly as possible.”

The NPA MD further disclosed that to achieve the goal, the Authority is eliminating human interface which encourages underhand dealings by pursuing the full automation of NPA processes and procedures through the Ports Community System (PCS) which lays the groundwork for the implementation of the National Single Window (NSW).

“For clarity, the NSW is the global best practice 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,” Dr Dantsoho said.

Dr Dantsoho commended the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture (ECCIMA) for the resilience to sustain the culture of hospitality and business friendliness that has continued to attract people from all over the globe to be a part of the Trade Fair which is deepening economic prosperity.

He stated that the strategic positioning of Enugu as the gateway to the South-Eastern hinterland presents huge opportunities for the expansion of export opportunities which is the focal point of the Authority.

[ad_1]

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}

[ad_2]