The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has automated all shipping documentation, reducing processing time from about two weeks to less than two hours.
This development was disclosed by Charles Okaga, the Port Manager of Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, during a Breakfast Meeting organized by the Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN) in Lagos.
The meeting, which had the theme “Trade Facilitation and President Tinubu’s Economic Agenda: Matters Arising,” highlighted the NPA’s commitment to improving efficiency in port operations.
Okaga revealed that the NPA, adhering to a federal government directive, has established an Export Processing Terminal (EPT) to encourage and facilitate export trade.
He explained, “There is a law for that, it is a directive from the government and the intention of the people who conceived this is that everything that has to do with export must start and finish at the Export Processing Terminal.”
He further noted that the Nigeria Customs Service has created a dedicated command for export at Lillypond, contributing to a positive balance of trade and a notable increase in exports between 2022 and 2024.
The Apapa Port Manager also emphasized the support from stakeholders in clearing the port access road, enhancing the flow of traffic.
“This time last year, we normally have an average of 40, 50, 60 container trucks entering the port by road but as at today, we have days that we have 122 trucks carrying 240 or so boxes into the port,” Okaga said.
He also highlighted improvements in cargo movement by rail and the ongoing efforts to fix infrastructure around the port. The NPA’s introduction of barge movement has also been pivotal in improving the multi-modal transport system within the ports.
