Nigeria has recorded over 25 per cent increase in non-oil exports in the last two years following the Federal Government’s policies, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has stated.
The Managing Director, NPA, Dr Abubarkar Dantsoho, stated this while speaking at the ongoing Annual World Ports Conference in London, organised by the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH).
According to him, Nigeria’s population gives it immense advantage among its peers in West and Central Africa, adding that recent reforms have also massively increased cargo throughputs.
He said the NPA has everything in place to sustain the growth in exports, adding that it was the reason it set up the Export Processing Terminal.
He said Nigeria was better placed today to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCTA) as a result of the reforms of the present administration.
The NPA boss revealed that as a result of the reforms, revenue from ports across Nigeria has quadrupled.
He said the Federal Government, in planning for the medium to long term, is investing $1 billion to expand and modernise the Apapa ports.
According to him, the expansion and modernisation of infrastructure requires collaboration with private sector people.
“This is a project that requires a lot of investment. You have to put a lot of money to be able to do that. We are also working with some partners to develop our technology. So, for example, in recent times, like a year ago, we had a partnership with a firm from Singapore.”
