NPA Resolves Bottleneck On Non-Oil Export To Boost Forex Inflow
NPA Resolves Bottleneck On Non-Oil Export To Boost Forex Inflow
…As Dantsoho Takes Port Revolution To Hinterland, Says Era Of Hauling Raw Goods To Lagos Is Over
By Success Okezie
The Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, has declared a decisive push to shatter the long-standing barriers choking Nigeria’s non-oil export trade, with a bold plan to expand export corridors, fast-track cargo delivery and inject fresh foreign exchange into the economy.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, rolled out the new agenda at the Authority’s Special Day at the ongoing 21st Abuja International Trade Fair, organised by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, ACCI, with the theme: “Resilient Trade, Taxation, and the Economy.”
Dantsoho, who commanded the attention of the business community at the Fair, said the NPA is no longer content with running coastal ports alone. The Authority, he said, is rebuilding port infrastructure and driving maritime logistics deep into the hinterland to give every exporter – from Sokoto to Abuja – a direct ticket to the global market.
“Trade resilience demands efficient infrastructure, predictable fiscal policies and seamless supply chains. We cannot build a resilient economy on imports and oil alone,” he warned, stressing that expanding non-oil exports and plugging local businesses into global value chains is now a matter of national survival.
The NPA boss described the Federal Government’s recent approval handing over the management and development of Inland Dry Ports, IDPs, to the NPA as the real game-changer.
According to him, the policy has fundamentally altered the export equation for businesses in Northern and Central Nigeria.
“By bringing Inland Dry Ports under the operational purview of the NPA, exporters in northern and central Nigeria, including right here in Abuja, no longer need to move raw commodities to coastal ports before undergoing port clearance and documentation,” Dantsoho declared.
What this means, he explained, is lower transport costs, faster turnaround time and an end to the punishing ritual of moving unprocessed commodities thousands of kilometres to Lagos or Port Harcourt before export.
To further crush bottlenecks, Dantsoho said the NPA has operationalised dedicated Export Processing Terminals, EPTs, conceived as one-stop export factories where sorting, packaging, quality certification and customs documentation are concluded long before cargo hits the seaport terminals.
He said the twin interventions are already reversing the tide. Agricultural commodities such as cocoa, sesame seeds, cashew nuts, hibiscus, and solid minerals have recorded a marked surge in export volumes in the last two years.
The ultimate payoff, he noted, will be greater confidence of foreign buyers in Made-in-Nigeria products, strict adherence to international delivery timelines, and a steady rise in forex inflows.
“To our prospective businessmen and entrepreneurs, now is the time to embrace export trade. The infrastructure is ready. The opportunity is here,” Dantsoho charged.
He assured that the NPA’s vision is to build a trade-enabling ecosystem where size and location are no longer barriers – where a smallholder farmer in Nasarawa and a mining operator in Jos can access the same world-class logistics as a multinational in Lagos.
Corroborating the NPA’s drive, the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, ACCI, called for a stronger, institutionalised partnership with the NPA to facilitate trade and unlock new investments.
The Director-General of ACCI, Agabaidu Jideani, said the efficiency and competitiveness of Nigeria’s ports directly determine the fate of importers, exporters, manufacturers, logistics firms and retailers across all sectoral groups.
“The efficiency, accessibility and competitiveness of Nigeria’s ports have direct implications for importers, exporters, manufacturers, distributors, logistics operators, retailers and numerous other businesses across our sectoral groups,” Jideani said.
He said ACCI, as the voice of business in the Federal Capital Territory, is keen to bridge the gap between hinterland businesses and the maritime economy, providing a structured platform for frank dialogue on port operations, trade facilitation and emerging opportunities.
“We therefore commend the Nigerian Ports Authority for participating in this year’s Abuja International Trade Fair and for using the NPA Day to engage directly with the organised private sector. We see this participation not merely as an exhibition opportunity, but as an important platform for dialogue, stakeholder engagement and partnership,” he stated.
Jideani said ACCI is ready to deepen engagement through policy dialogues, business forums, sensitisation and capacity-building programmes that will improve ease of doing business and boost Nigeria’s participation in domestic, regional and continental trade under the AfCFTA.
He added that the Abuja International Trade Fair remains ACCI’s most practical tool for promoting trade, investment and sustainable economic development, bringing together businesses, investors, government agencies, diplomatic missions, financial institutions and development partners.
“We look forward to building an even stronger and more sustained partnership that will support businesses, facilitate trade, create opportunities, and contribute to the growth and competitiveness of the Nigerian economy,” Jideani said
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