NPA Deploys Export Terminals, Dedicated Cargo Corridors to Boost Non-Oil Trade, Attract Investments
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says it has deployed Export Processing Terminals and dedicated cargo transit corridors to address logistics bottlenecks, accelerate export cargo movement and strengthen Nigeria’s non-oil export trade.
The Managing Director of NPA, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, disclosed this while addressing participants at the 40th edition of the Lagos International Trade Fair, where he highlighted the Authority’s ongoing reforms to improve port efficiency and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in international trade.
Dantsoho explained that the Export Processing Terminals were designated and integrated to provide one-stop processing, documentation and pre-gating services for export cargo, thereby reducing turnaround time and streamlining export operations.
He added that the Authority had also operationalised dedicated transit corridors in collaboration with security and traffic management agencies to facilitate the seamless movement of export cargo to the ports.
According to him, the initiatives are aimed at improving non-oil export logistics, supporting small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), enhancing the global competitiveness of Nigerian products and increasing the country’s foreign exchange earnings.
Describing non-oil exports as a national priority, Dantsoho stressed the need for Nigeria to move beyond its traditional position as a consuming economy and strengthen its capacity as a manufacturing and exporting powerhouse.
He said the transformation of the maritime sector was driven by deliberate policy execution and strategic leadership, noting that the NPA, as a critical gateway to the Nigerian economy, plays a central role in connecting local businesses to international markets.
On infrastructure development, the NPA Managing Director said the Authority’s $1 billion Port Modernisation Drive was opening up significant investment opportunities for local and international investors to participate in the transformation of the country’s maritime infrastructure.
He identified the rehabilitation and expansion of port infrastructure across Apapa Port, Tin Can Island Port, Calabar, Rivers, Delta and Onne as key areas requiring strategic partnerships and private sector investment.
Dantsoho also highlighted opportunities in digital and smart port solutions, including automated gates, Port Community Systems, Vessel Traffic Management Systems (VTMS) and artificial intelligence-driven logistics.
Other areas include the development of dry ports and multimodal logistics infrastructure, particularly inland container depots, rail-port linkages and cold-chain systems.
He further identified green port initiatives, including renewable energy deployment, eco-friendly port equipment and sustainable waste management, as investment opportunities aligned with global decarbonisation goals.
The NPA chief assured prospective investors of the Authority’s commitment to providing a transparent and business-friendly environment, backed by regulatory stability and attractive investment returns.
He said the modernisation programme, being implemented with the support of the Federal Government and the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, would position Nigerian ports for greater efficiency, export-led economic growth and improved global competitiveness.
Dantsoho urged participants, international trade delegations and investors at the fair to explore the investment opportunities within Nigeria’s Blue Economy.
He noted that the theme of the 40th edition, “40 Years of Trade, Growth and Global Connection”, reflected the NPA’s mandate of connecting domestic enterprises with international markets.
He reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to sustaining Nigeria’s global trade connections through port modernisation, improved trade facilitation and the development of an efficient maritime sector.
