NPA Boss Outlines FG Efforts in Ports Infrastructure, Trade Development
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The Acting Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko has said that the federal government has made far reaching efforts to develop the nation’s ports infrastructure to enthrone efficient trade facilitation.
In a statement by the General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications., Olaseni Alakija, the NPA Boss stated that the Nigerian Government under the able leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari has also introduced far reaching reforms to facilitate cross border trade, particularly nurturing a multimodal port system to reduce the cost of shipments in and out of the country.
Koko disclosed this while receiving a delegation from the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire who paid him a courtesy visit at the NPA corporate headquarters in Marina, Lagos.
The Buhari administration, he added, has also invested heavily in major public infrastructure upgrades, including construction of modern rail lines and deep seaports, to boost the international competitiveness of the country’s trade as well as positioned Nigeria as gateway to the African economy, he said.
He informed the delegation that one of the greenfield Ports, the Lekki Deep Seaport capable of handling ultra large cargo vessels, is scheduled to commence business by the second quarter of 2022.
He also highlighted efforts by the Authority to give priority to non-oil export trade, stating that export processing terminals are now being established, to take advantage of opportunities under AfCFTA.
He entreated the government and Ivorian businesses to increase their share of trade with Nigeria.
Bello-Koko assured the delegation that the NPA will do all that is required to address non tariff barriers and restrictions to trade between the two sister countries.
He added that there is room for information sharing, just as both countries need to cooperate more in the areas of joint training of staff and technology transfer.
Koko also said NPA was ready to nurture the country’s economic relations with the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire in the areas of port and shipping operations.
According to him this was to strengthen the capacities of both countries to participate competitively in global and regional trade.
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