The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Abubakar Dantsoho, has called on the trading and investing public to take advantage of the Authority’s streamlined export procedures and vast opportunities available across Nigeria’s port ecosystem.
Speaking at the ‘NPA Special Day’ event during the 36th Enugu International Trade Fair, Dantsoho emphasized the NPA’s commitment to driving economic advancement through innovation, partnership, and export promotion.
The trade fair, themed “Developing Nigeria’s Industrial Sector/SMEs for Economic Advancement and Global Recognition,” provided a platform for stakeholders to explore new channels for industrial and trade growth.
Representing Nigeria’s premier trade facilitation platform, Dantsoho highlighted the Authority’s strategic implementation of Export Processing Terminals (EPTs), designed to simplify and accelerate the export of Nigerian-made goods.
These EPTs serve as centralized hubs for cargo consolidation, documentation, packaging, certification, and electronic call-up systems, reducing bureaucratic red tape and improving turnaround times for exporters.
“In establishing the EPTs, our goal is to eliminate the duplications and bureaucratic overlaps that previously rendered Nigerian exports uncompetitive in the global marketplace,” Dantsoho stated. “We are connecting value creators from the remotest hinterlands to demand clusters across the world.”
In alignment with the Federal Government’s ease of doing business agenda, the NPA has also prioritized full automation of port processes through the Port Community System (PCS)—a foundational step toward implementing the National Single Window (NSW) system. The NSW, Dantsoho explained, is the global standard for seamless trade, providing a digital interface where all stakeholders in the export chain can interact efficiently and transparently.
“To ensure efficiency and reduce human interference that often breeds underhand dealings, we are investing in end-to-end automation,” he said. “The NSW will enable stakeholders to process transactions at the push of a button.”
As part of the NPA’s efforts to integrate Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) into the export value chain, Dantsoho disclosed that the EPTs will work in synergy with Domestic Export Warehouses (DEWs), in collaboration with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and other relevant agencies. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between production zones and export terminals, making it easier for SMEs to access international markets.
Dantsoho praised the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA) for its commitment to fostering a vibrant business environment in the South-East. He noted that Enugu’s strategic location as a gateway to the South-Eastern hinterland makes it an ideal hub for expanding Nigeria’s export footprint.
“We are proud to be part of this noble cause. The NPA will continue to partner with stakeholders and support initiatives like this trade fair that promote national economic prosperity,” he said.
Inviting participants to engage further, Dantsoho encouraged visitors to interact with the NPA business development team at the fair and explore services via the Authority’s real-time digital platform at [www.nigerianports.gov.ng](http://www.nigerianports.gov.ng).
“The doors of the Nigerian Ports Authority remain open for fruitful partnerships beyond this event,” he concluded
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