The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko, stated on Tuesday that the inauguration of DiamondStar Export Processing Terminal was a demonstration of the premium the nation placed on the speedy and prioritized handling of export in a bid to make Nigerian exports competitive in the global marketplace.
He said the terminal was a giant step towards making the national economy export-led and a pre-gate for processing all export-bound containers entering Lagos Ports using the road corridor.
While speaking at the inauguration on Tuesday in Lagos, Bello-koko said the initiative signposted the Nigerian Ports Authority’s commitment to implementation of the National Action Plan on agro-export and the federal government’s desire to diversify the national economy from oil export to non-oil exports.
“The Authority is by this move positioning to infuse greater efficiency into the logistics surrounding the entry of export boxes into the ports and the eventual loading on sea-going vessels.
“The launch of this and other terminals also strategically positions Nigeria to optimize the advantages of the benefits inherent in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) Agreement,” he said.
Bello-Koko said the need for the Export Processing Terminals (EPTs) was underscored by the limitations of current port facilities in the Lagos area which were operating beyond their ‘’as built capacity’’ for cargo handling.
He maintained that the EPTs were therefore holding areas positioned in Lagos and Ogun States to help exporters prepare their arrivals at port terminals in-view of the traffic management challenges that were visible in Lagos.
He praised the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) for serving as the Authority’s technical partners “through this journey for which we are truly grateful.”
He disclosed that NPA was working to integrate the CBN NXP to the e-call up regime, adding we “have progressed on discussion to operationalize the same using the electronic call up as the gateway.
“As we can all see, the Comptroller General Nigeria Customs Service in response to the request by the Authority has graciously established an Export Command to support the Federal Government’s efforts in this regard.
“We are also working to integrate barge and train movements to complete the circle in collaboration with Nigerian Customs.
“The Nigerian Ports Authority is not unaware of the existence of export warehouses handling manufactured products. We will work with the NCS export command to bring up seamless modalities that will govern this aspect.
“To emphasize the importance of export in our strategy, movement of export boxes from the Lilypond Export Terminal shall be directly through Warehouse Road to cut down on time for arrival into the port.
“Similarly, movement of export boxes to Tin-Can Island Port shall be from the DiamondStar consolidation point at EMMADUNAMIX TERMINAL OKOTA.”
He emphasised that the movement of agro export boxes arriving the ports from Lagos and Ogun states “shall only be from this terminal and four others already granted approval and shall be officially presented their licenses on 3rd November, 2022 at a separate ceremony slated to hold at the NPA corporate headquarters in Lagos.”
Bello-Koko stated further that for export containers arriving from the Domestic Export Warehouses (DEW) located across the country, the NPA was committed to receiving them subject to compliance with the traffic management put in place by the Lagos State Government.
He noted that Lagos government had provided the enforcement backbone under a collaborative relationship that had ensured the success of electronic call up project, adding “we would work with you and our colleagues in the Nigerian Customs to find the balance necessary to ensure the desired outcome.”
He added: “For our Terminal Operators, Shipping Companies and other stakeholders, you have been fully briefed on the procedure for ensuring success of the federal government National Action Plan on agro-export development in the country. You have a responsibility to ensure strict compliance in this regard.
“Let me take the opportunity of this occasion to assure that we will continue to encourage patriotic local investors by deliberately deploying specific policy to strengthen them.”
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