The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said that Abuja’s central location and vast agro-allied potential are key assets that align with the Authority’s commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s drive to expand non-oil revenue and diversify the economy.
Speaking during the “NPA Special Day” at the Abuja International Trade Fair, Dantsoho noted that the capital’s centrality makes it a vital hub for connecting local producers in the non-oil value chain with international markets, thereby boosting exports and strengthening Nigeria’s trade balance.
“The position of Abuja as the centre of the country is strategic to the NPA’s renewed trade facilitation focus that places high premium on port-hinterland connectivity,” he said.
“Abuja’s location provides seamless linkages with the comparative advantages across all regions of the federation that can be harnessed to grow the volume and value of Nigeria’s exports.”
The NPA boss reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to partnering with stakeholders to advance the government’s diversification agenda, describing trade as “the most veritable tool for achieving Nigeria’s economic aspirations.”
Highlighting ongoing initiatives to ease export processes, Dantsoho invited the trading and investing public to take advantage of the NPA’s tailored export facilitation systems, including the Export Processing Terminals (EPTs) established to simplify procedures and reduce bureaucracy.
“The EPTs were conceptualized as one-stop centres for cargo consolidation, documentation, packaging, certification, and onward shipment through electronic call-up systems to the ports,” he explained. “This innovation eliminates duplication and delays that previously made Nigerian exports less competitive.”
Dantsoho said the Authority has also structured the EPTs to work seamlessly with Domestic Export Warehouses (DEWs) in collaboration with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and Inland Dry Ports, ensuring that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are integrated into the export value chain.
To further enhance efficiency and transparency, he announced that the NPA is unifying its operational platforms under a Port Community System (PCS), a digital transaction gateway designed to pave the way for the National Single Window (NSW) initiative.
“The PCS and the NSW represent global best practices that connect all stakeholders in the trade value chain for seamless interaction, eliminating opacity and delays caused by human interference,” Dantsoho said.
He assured stakeholders that the NPA remains open to partnerships beyond the trade fair and encouraged the public to visit the Authority’s interactive website to explore available opportunities and growth initiatives.
