By Seun Ibiyemi
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has said that railway movement of cargo has also improved from 9,000 moves recorded in year 2023, to 10,000 moves recorded in the first half of 2024 alone, even as NPA’s shipping documentation is now done online, reducing document processing time from about two weeks to less than two hours.
Port Manager, Lagos Ports Complex of NPA, Charles Bamidele Okaga gave the indication during a recent stakeholders roundtable organised by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) in Apapa Lagos.
The NPA also commended the Nigeria Customs Service efforts in ensuring that export cargoes gain unfettered access to the port, adding that customs resident commands in the ports have been instructed to refrain from interfering with exports once cargo is cleared and released.
“We are proud to say that between 2022 and 2024, there has been a tremendous increase in exports. For the first time in a long while, we have a positive balance of trade concerning exportation.
“Stakeholders, including the Nigerian Customs Authority, have received support from stakeholders to ensure that port access roads are clear. This time last year, we had an average of 40 to 50 container trucks entering the port by road. Today, we have days with up to 122 trucks carrying around 240 boxes into the port. This is a step forward.
“Our export has increased; using 2022 as a baseline, our export value in 2024 is projected to be 15 percent higher than in 2022, and 15 percent higher in 2024 compared to 2023. This indicates that policies to ensure smooth export movement are working.
“I am proud to announce that the Customs resident commands in the ports have been instructed to refrain from interfering with exports once cargo is cleared and released.
“The Apapa Port, where I am the port manager, operates 24 hours a day, which has improved cargo flow in and out of the ports. However, there are still issues with infrastructure around the port, particularly the roads, which are in poor condition.
“Contracts for some road portions, especially from Costain to the Ijora Park area, have been awarded by the Federal Ministry of Works. The NPA has been engaged at the highest level to ensure the roads around the port are fixed.
“Railway movement of cargo has also improved; last year we had about 9,000 moves, and in the first half of this year, we’ve had over 10,000 moves by rail. Nigerian Port Authority’s shipping documentation is now done online, reducing document processing time from about two weeks to less than two hours, provided everything is in place,” Okaga said.