In keeping with the agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to diversify the national economy and reduce dependence on oil exports, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on Friday flagged off the first non-oil export processing terminal, situated in Ibeshe-Ikorodu, Lagos.
The event is coming ahead of the official launch of the ten certified export processing terminals, spread across Lagos and Ogun States.
Speaking at the Ibeshe-Ikorodu facility, designated as EssLibra Terminal, the Managing Director of NPA, Mohammed Bello Koko, implored all agencies involved in the export processing value chain to deploy adequate personnel and work together to ensure efficiency and quick turnaround in the processing of export cargoes.
While commending the management of EssLibra for the quality of facilities at the terminal, he assured them of the readiness of NPA to remove all impediments against the seamless handling of locally manufactured exports and agro-allied commodities.
Koko charged the management of the terminal to resist the temptation to veer off export processing for which the facility was built, as the rationale is to have a one-stop-shop where all inspection, consolidation and stuffing of export-bound cargo will be conducted in a synchronised manner in order to eliminate the delays that hitherto rendered Nigeria’s non-oil exports uncompetitive.
He assured that NPA would effectively implement all government policies geared towards the promotion of exports, as well as strengthen indigenous capacity through the promotion of local content.
“We took cognizance of local content in the certification process of this terminal, and this is why I expect the host community to take ownership of this terminal and support its operations, in view of the multiplier benefits to the host community,” he said.
Managing Director of EssLibra Terminal, Yemi Adunola, thanked NPA and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) for supporting the project. He pledged his company’s readiness to render efficient services and a commitment to continuous improvement through sustained investments in human capital and requisite technology.
The new export processing terminal covers an area of 120,000sqm that includes an export processing zone, a trailer park, roro facility and fuel dump. The facility is reportedly equipped with over 100 dedicated trucks, 7 barges, 2 cranes and 8 container handlers.
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