The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has announced major investments in the rehabilitation of key Eastern ports—Onne, Warri, and Calabar—as part of efforts to increase cargo traffic and expand operational capacity.
Managing Director Abubakar Dantsoho revealed that alongside infrastructure upgrades, the authority is offering tailored technical support to promoters of deep seaports to sustainably attract vessels and cargo traffic to Nigeria’s eastern corridor.
Speaking at the Enugu International Trade Fair, Dantsoho outlined a broader strategy aimed at boosting non-oil exports. The plan focuses on modernising port infrastructure, simplifying export procedures, and fully automating port operations.
He explained that the NPA is repositioning Nigeria’s port system to better connect local producers—particularly small and medium-scale enterprises—to international markets, thereby strengthening export competitiveness.
Highlighting the importance of Enugu as a commercial hub, Dantsoho noted that its strategic location makes it a vital gateway for exports from the South-East, especially agro-based products.
He also commended the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture for sustaining the trade fair as a platform for business growth and global trade engagement.
Central to the NPA’s reforms is the introduction of Export Process Terminals (EPTs), designed to streamline export activities. These terminals function as one-stop centres for cargo consolidation, documentation, packaging, certification, and shipment—reducing delays and eliminating bureaucratic bottlenecks that previously hindered Nigerian exports.
Dantsoho added that the EPTs will be integrated with Domestic Export Warehouses in partnership with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council and other stakeholders, improving connectivity between ports and inland production zones.
To further enhance efficiency and transparency, the NPA is also implementing the National Single Window system, aimed at automating port processes and reducing human interference, in line with the Federal Government’s ease-of-doing-business agenda.
He reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to collaborating with investors and exporters, urging them to leverage NPA platforms to grow their businesses.
