The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has disclosed that it has invested in the rehabilitation of key Eastern ports, including Onne, Warri, and Calabar, to drive cargo traffic and improve capacity.

Managing Director of NPA, Abubakar Dantsoho, said that, in addition to the investment in the renewal of Eastern ports’ infrastructure, the authority is providing bespoke technical guidance to proponents of deep-seaports to drive vessel and cargo traffic to the Eastern flank on a sustainable basis.

Speaking at the 37th Enugu International Trade Fair, held recently in the state, Dantsoho said the authority rolled out a comprehensive strategy to boost Nigeria’s non-oil exports, anchored in infrastructure renewal, simplification of export processes, and the full automation of port operations.

He said that the authority is repositioning the country’s port system to connect local producers, especially Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs), to global markets.

Dantsoho highlighted the strategic importance of Enugu as a commercial gateway to the South-East hinterland, noting that its location presents vast opportunities for export expansion, particularly in agro-allied products.

The NPA boss commended the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture for sustaining the trade fair as a platform for enterprise development and international trade engagement.

He stressed that trade remains one of the most effective tools for achieving Nigeria’s economic aspirations, adding that the NPA is committed to removing longstanding bottlenecks that have hindered export competitiveness.

Central to the reform agenda is the establishment of Export Process Terminals (EPTs), designed to simplify and streamline export procedures for Nigerian goods.

“As some of us are aware, we established the Export Process Terminals (EPTs) to simplify the hitherto burdensome process of exporting Nigerian goods,” Dantsoho said.

He explained that the terminals serve as a one-stop shop for all export-related activities, significantly reducing delays and inefficiencies.

“The EPTs were conceptualised to serve as a one-stop shop for cargo consolidation, stuffing, documentation, packaging, certification, and onward shipment, thus eliminating the duplications and bureaucratic overlaps that previously rendered Nigerian exports uncompetitive,” Dantsoho explained.

Dantsoho added that the EPTs would be linked to Domestic Export Warehouses, in collaboration with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council and other partners, to strengthen port-hinterland connectivity and open up export opportunities for businesses across the country.

He said to further enhance efficiency and align with the Federal Government’s ease-of-doing-business agenda, the NPA is pursuing full automation of its processes through the implementation of the National Single Window (NSW) system.

“To achieve this, we are eliminating human interface, which encourages underhand dealings by pursuing the full automation of our processes, with the implementation of the National Single Window (NSW),” he said.

He assured stakeholders of the authority’s readiness to partner with investors and exporters, urging them to take advantage of NPA’s platforms and services.