NPA Takes Export Drive To Hinterland, Targets Forex Earnings

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has intensified efforts to take export logistics closer to businesses in Nigeria’s hinterland as part of a fresh push to remove trade bottlenecks, expand non-oil exports and increase foreign exchange earnings.

The move is expected to particularly benefit exporters in northern and central Nigeria, including Abuja, by reducing the distance and logistics challenges involved in moving export commodities to coastal ports for clearance and documentation.

The NPA Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, disclosed this at the NPA Special Day at the 21st Abuja International Trade Fair, organised by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).

Dantsoho said the authority was strengthening port infrastructure and extending maritime logistics into the hinterland to enable Nigerian businesses to access international markets more efficiently.

He said Nigeria could no longer rely predominantly on imports and oil revenues for economic growth, stressing that expanding non-oil exports and integrating businesses nationwide into global value chains were critical to building a resilient economy.

According to him, the recent Federal Government approval transferring Inland Dry Port (IDP) management and development functions to the NPA would bring port services closer to businesses operating far from the coastal ports.

He said the development would reduce the logistical burden on exporters in northern and central Nigeria, while making export trade more accessible and commercially viable.

Dantsoho said, “By bringing Inland Dry Ports under the operational purview of the NPA, exporters in northern and central Nigeria, including right here in Abuja, no longer need to move raw commodities to coastal ports before undergoing port clearance and documentation.”

He added that the NPA had introduced targeted interventions to address bottlenecks confronting non-oil exporters, including the operationalisation of dedicated Export Processing Terminals.

According to him, the terminals provide one-stop facilities where sorting, packaging, quality certification and customs documentation can be completed before export cargo is moved to port terminals.

The NPA boss said the interventions were already supporting increased export activity, particularly in agricultural commodities and solid minerals, while helping Nigerian producers meet international delivery schedules.

He identified cocoa, sesame seeds, cashew nuts and hibiscus, alongside solid minerals, among commodities that had recorded increased export activity over the past two years.

Dantsoho said that improving the efficiency of export channels would strengthen foreign buyers’ confidence in Nigerian products and ultimately increase foreign exchange inflows into the domestic economy.

He therefore urged businesses in agriculture, manufacturing, processing and solid minerals to take advantage of the emerging export infrastructure and expand their presence in international markets.

“To our prospective businessmen and entrepreneurs, now is the time to embrace export trade,” he said.

The NPA chief executive said that integrating Inland Dry Ports with seaport operations would enable businesses across regions to participate more effectively in international trade.

He assured exporters that the authority remained committed to providing efficient port services and expanding maritime logistics across the country.

Dantsoho said the objective was to create a trade-enabling environment in which exporters, regardless of their size or location, could access reliable logistics support and compete more effectively in global markets.

He added that a resilient Nigerian economy depended on a thriving trade ecosystem, assuring that the NPA would continue to support initiatives to strengthen the country’s position in international trade.

Also speaking, the Director General of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Agabaidu Jideani, called for stronger collaboration between the Chamber and the NPA to facilitate trade, unlock investment opportunities and strengthen the connection between Nigeria’s maritime sector and the wider business community.

Jideani made the call at the NPA Day organised on the sidelines of the 21st Abuja International Trade Fair in Abuja.

He said closer engagement between the NPA and the organised private sector was critical to improving the ease of doing business, strengthening supply chains and enhancing Nigeria’s participation in domestic, regional and international trade.

According to him, the efficiency, accessibility and competitiveness of Nigeria’s ports had direct implications for importers, exporters, manufacturers, distributors, logistics operators, retailers and other businesses.

“The efficiency, accessibility and competitiveness of Nigeria’s ports have direct implications for importers, exporters, manufacturers, distributors, logistics operators, retailers and numerous other businesses across our sectoral groups,” he said.

Jideani said ACCI was particularly interested in strengthening the connection between businesses in the Federal Capital Territory and the wider national and international trade ecosystem.

He said the Chamber could provide a structured platform for businesses to share their practical experiences with the NPA, while the Authority could use such platforms to enlighten the business community on port operations, trade facilitation initiatives, procedures and opportunities within the maritime sector.

“We therefore commend the Nigerian Ports Authority for participating in this year’s Abuja International Trade Fair and for using the NPA Day to engage directly with the organised private sector,” Jideani said.

“We see this participation not merely as an exhibition opportunity, but as an important platform for dialogue, stakeholder engagement and partnership.”

He said ACCI was ready to deepen its engagement with the NPA through policy dialogues, business forums, sensitisation programmes, capacity-building initiatives and other mutually beneficial engagements.

Jideani said such collaboration would contribute to more efficient trade and stronger economic linkages, particularly as businesses continued to seek improved market access, stronger supply chains and a more conducive environment for trade and investment.

He noted that the Abuja International Trade Fair provided an appropriate platform for strengthening interaction among businesses, government agencies, investors, financial institutions, diplomatic missions and development partners.

Jideani said the trade fair remained a practical expression of the Chamber’s mandate to promote trade, investment and sustainable economic development.

“As we celebrate the 21st edition under the theme ‘Resilience, Trade, Taxation and the Economy,’ we recognise that stronger collaboration between institutions such as the NPA and the organised private sector is essential to improving the ease of doing business, strengthening supply chains and enhancing Nigeria’s participation in domestic, regional and international trade,” he said.

He commended the NPA for identifying with the trade fair, describing its participation as an opportunity to deepen understanding and promote dialogue between the maritime sector and the broader business community.

Jideani said ACCI looked forward to building a stronger and sustained relationship with the NPA to support businesses, facilitate trade, create new economic opportunities and improve the competitiveness of the Nigerian economy.