AfCFTA: NPA Modernising to Ensure Competitive Edge Over Rival Ports, Says MD
By Francis Ugwoke
The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr Abubakar Dantsoho on Tuesday said that the organisation is doing everything to ensure that the nation’s ports are repositioned to be able to compete with others within the West and Central African sub-region.
Dantsoho said the organization is currently strategizing to ensure competitive edge ahead of others, adding that it is modernising to take advantage of the planned African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
In a presentation at the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) Maritime and Logistics event in Lagos, the NPA boss said he foresees a situation in which intra African trade will significantly increase once trade barriers across Africa are collapsed.
Speaking on the theme “Improving the competitiveness of the Nigerian ports in an era of regional integration.”, Dantsoho said it is therefore imperative that the Nigerian ports reposition to be competitive in order not to lose its gateway traffic to the ports.
According to him, “Our vision is to be the Maritime Logistics Hub for sustainable port services in Africa.
“In the quest for our nation to optimize the benefits accruable from AFCFTA, there is no gainsaying that port plays a pivotal role as a nodal point in international logistics. Given the fact that port cost is a significant component of freight cost which ultimately affects the prices of goods in the market, this speaks to the imperativeness for our ports to be competitive and efficient.
“This requires strategic collaboration of every player in the port system for this to be actualized.” .
He maintained that port competitiveness is often driven by institution, infrastructure and macroeconomics, adding that “strong institutions provide the regulatory and governance framework necessary for stable and predictable business operations; while infrastructure is a cornerstone of port competitiveness, influencing both operational efficiency and long-term strategic viability”.
He said, “The quality of infrastructure affects transport costs, trade efficiency, and overall competitiveness. Investments in inland terminals, logistic zones, and rail networks can expand a port’s influence beyond its traditional hinterland and bring about efficiency that makes the port competitive”
Noting that macroeconomic environment of a country is intricately linked to its ports’ performance and competitiveness, Dantsoho said factors such as inflation, exchange rates, and economic stability influence trade flows and investments.
He commended the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, HE Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, for supporting the organization in its steps to reposition the nation’s ports.
Dantsoho tabled the efforts of the NPA to ensure competitiveness as in the port modernisation project, adding that it is envisaged that modernization will position Nigerian ports at the edge of competition and improves efficiency.
He said that apart from the newly developed Lekki Deep Seaport, the remaining six ports in the country have been “grappling with decrepit infrastructure, ranging from silted channels to collapse breakwaters and quays”.
“It is consequent upon this that the Authority has embarked on a port modernisation project, aimed at revamping the dilapidated infrastructure. The Lagos Port Complex and Tin Can Island Port Complex will serve as pilot projects.
“ Port Community System/National Single Window – This according to him, is a digital collaborative platform that enables seamless exchange of information amongst the many port stakeholders and provides a platform for one-stop shop payments for all activities within the port ecosystem”, he said.
According to him, this will reduce paper work and administrative bureaucracy.
He also said that NPA in collaboration with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is working towards the actualisation of this project.
“The Port Community System (PCS) is envisaged to culminate into the National Single Window (NSW) for maximum efficiency and competitiveness”
On automation of operations, Dantsoho stated that port operations can only be automated with modern and strong infrastructure.
He explained, “For instance, in container operations, modern Ship-to-Shore cranes can only be deployed on strong quay aprons, he said, stressing that “automation of our operations will be a major paradigm shift for our port efficiency. It is expected to reduce the turn-around-time of container vessels to hours instead of days.”
Describing Lekki Deep Sea port as a game changer, the NPA MD said since commencement of its operations, NPA’s cargo and vessel traffic has continued to witness growth of transshipment traffic.
He identified a few new Deep seaport projects which are underway as the Badagry, Ibom, Calabar, assuring that with the right and skilled manpower deployed to these new ports, the nation’s ports will certainly be competitive.
On Export Processing Terminals (EPTs) , he revealed that the NPA in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service approved the establishment of six Export Processing Terminals (EPTs) in the Lagos area.
According to him, “All export cargoes are processed and certified fit before proceeding to the ports for loading on vessels. The establishment of the EPTs has seen our exports grow overtime.”
Speaking on the Truck E-Call up System (Trucks Transit Park/Eto), Dantsoho affirmed that there is a correlation between port operation and hinterland evacuation of cargo.
He explained that in order to clear the encumbrances in the port access corridor in the Lagos Pilotage District, the organization engaged the services of Messrs. Trucks Transit Park (TTP) for real-time solution to the hitherto congestion caused by port bound trucks.
Over 70,000 trucks, he said, have registered with the company, where they are electronically scheduled to deliver containers in the ports.
The major achievement of this effort, he said is that the Authority has freed up the port access roads in Lagos with the result that ease of doing business has improved.
The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr Abubakar Dantsoho on Tuesday said that the organisation is doing everything to ensure that the nation’s ports are repositioned to be able to compete with others within the West and Central African sub-region.
Dantsoho said the organization is currently strategizing to ensure competitive edge ahead of others, adding that it is modernising to take advantage of the planned African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
In a presentation at the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) Maritime and Logistics event in Lagos, the NPA boss said he foresees a situation in which intra African trade will significantly increase once trade barriers across Africa are collapsed.
Speaking on the theme “Improving the competitiveness of the Nigerian ports in an era of regional integration.”, Dantsoho said it is therefore imperative that the Nigerian ports reposition to be competitive in order not to lose its gateway traffic to the ports.
According to him, “Our vision is to be the Maritime Logistics Hub for sustainable port services in Africa.
“In the quest for our nation to optimize the benefits accruable from AFCFTA, there is no gainsaying that port plays a pivotal role as a nodal point in international logistics. Given the fact that port cost is a significant component of freight cost which ultimately affects the prices of goods in the market, this speaks to the imperativeness for our ports to be competitive and efficient.
“This requires strategic collaboration of every player in the port system for this to be actualized.” .
He maintained that port competitiveness is often driven by institution, infrastructure and macroeconomics, adding that “strong institutions provide the regulatory and governance framework necessary for stable and predictable business operations; while infrastructure is a cornerstone of port competitiveness, influencing both operational efficiency and long-term strategic viability”.
He said, “The quality of infrastructure affects transport costs, trade efficiency, and overall competitiveness. Investments in inland terminals, logistic zones, and rail networks can expand a port’s influence beyond its traditional hinterland and bring about efficiency that makes the port competitive”
Noting that macroeconomic environment of a country is intricately linked to its ports’ performance and competitiveness, Dantsoho said factors such as inflation, exchange rates, and economic stability influence trade flows and investments.
He commended the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, HE Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, for supporting the organization in its steps to reposition the nation’s ports.
Dantsoho tabled the efforts of the NPA to ensure competitiveness as in the port modernisation project, adding that it is envisaged that modernization will position Nigerian ports at the edge of competition and improves efficiency.
He said that apart from the newly developed Lekki Deep Seaport, the remaining six ports in the country have been “grappling with decrepit infrastructure, ranging from silted channels to collapse breakwaters and quays”.
“It is consequent upon this that the Authority has embarked on a port modernisation project, aimed at revamping the dilapidated infrastructure. The Lagos Port Complex and Tin Can Island Port Complex will serve as pilot projects.
“ Port Community System/National Single Window – This according to him, is a digital collaborative platform that enables seamless exchange of information amongst the many port stakeholders and provides a platform for one-stop shop payments for all activities within the port ecosystem”, he said.
According to him, this will reduce paper work and administrative bureaucracy.
He also said that NPA in collaboration with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is working towards the actualisation of this project.
“The Port Community System (PCS) is envisaged to culminate into the National Single Window (NSW) for maximum efficiency and competitiveness”
On automation of operations, Dantsoho stated that port operations can only be automated with modern and strong infrastructure.
He explained, “For instance, in container operations, modern Ship-to-Shore cranes can only be deployed on strong quay aprons, he said, stressing that “automation of our operations will be a major paradigm shift for our port efficiency. It is expected to reduce the turn-around-time of container vessels to hours instead of days.”
Describing Lekki Deep Sea port as a game changer, the NPA MD said since commencement of its operations, NPA’s cargo and vessel traffic has continued to witness growth of transshipment traffic.
He identified a few new Deep seaport projects which are underway as the Badagry, Ibom, Calabar, assuring that with the right and skilled manpower deployed to these new ports, the nation’s ports will certainly be competitive.
On Export Processing Terminals (EPTs) , he revealed that the NPA in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service approved the establishment of six Export Processing Terminals (EPTs) in the Lagos area.
According to him, “All export cargoes are processed and certified fit before proceeding to the ports for loading on vessels. The establishment of the EPTs has seen our exports grow overtime.”
Speaking on the Truck E-Call up System (Trucks Transit Park/Eto), Dantsoho affirmed that there is a correlation between port operation and hinterland evacuation of cargo.
He explained that in order to clear the encumbrances in the port access corridor in the Lagos Pilotage District, the organization engaged the services of Messrs. Trucks Transit Park (TTP) for real-time solution to the hitherto congestion caused by port bound trucks.
Over 70,000 trucks, he said, have registered with the company, where they are electronically scheduled to deliver containers in the ports.
The major achievement of this effort, he said is that the Authority has freed up the port access roads in Lagos with the result that ease of doing business has improved.
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