November 07, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has unveiled a total $1.1 billion port rehabilitation plan to fortify Nigeria’s trade competitiveness.
Managing Director of NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko, disclosed this on Tuesday, during a panel session at the 43rd Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) conference held in Lagos.
Bello-Koko said the execution of the plan will commence in the first quarter of 2024
“The objective of the authority is to enhance the physical infrastructure of these ports to accommodate vessels of all sizes and increase the draft at the quayside. Increasing the draft is with the aim of achieving draft depths of up to 14 meters and this initiative will render Nigerian ports more competitive on a global scale,” he said.
Bello-Koko said the NPA was also strengthening collaborations with the private sector to establish new seaports.
On the inefficiencies associated with road-dependence in cargo evacuation, Bello-Koko said the NPA was actively working on alternative initiatives like barges and expanding rail infrastructure.
“The survey for deploying cargo rail and tracks to Onne port has been completed, setting the stage for the project to kick off next year,” he said.
To streamline operations and reduce costs, Bello-Koko said NPA was embracing automation in its operations.
“The authority has automated its collection system and is collaborating with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to introduce a state-of-the-art port community system, poised to optimise cargo clearance processes.
“The authority is working on clarifying the responsibilities of government agencies within the ports with the newly developed port process manual aimed at reducing overlaps and eliminating duplication of duties,” he said.
The NPA boss noted that the deployment of the “Deep Blue Sea” project, equipped with air and sea assets, would enhance security in the Gulf of Guinea and contribute significantly to reducing the incidence of piracy within Nigerian waters.
“There will be development of a 25-year port master plan that will guide the location, sizes, and activities of ports, terminals, and jetties in Nigeria. The master plan will serve as a national working document, uniting all stakeholders towards marine and logistics development,” Bello-Koko said.
Also speaking, Martin Boguikouma, President, PMAWCA, urged African countries to address challenges facing the region to be able to receive the new volume of traffic that would emerge due to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Boguikouma listed ways to solve the challenges, adding that the solution included collaboration between customs and port authorities to harmonise customs procedures.
“We need to ensure capacity building of all seaports and customs officials; sensitise them on how to address cross-border trade. There is a need to work on reducing transport cost, investing in efficient transport infrastructure, maritime safety through enhanced interstate cooperation,” he said.
He noted that in Gabon, they had put in place things that would ensure that free trade became a success.
The PMAWCA President said that signing a Memorandum of Understanding on trade facilitation and harmonised customs duty, which was very important for the AfCFTA, could aid in making free trade successful.
“We have put in place a National Commission for Trade Facilitation and the commission has three modules, which are operationalisation of trade standard, adoption of a roadmap for trade facilitation and a regulatory framework,” he said.
About the Author
AYO ESAN, has been actively reporting and analyzing political events for different newspapers for over 18 years. He has also successfully covered national and state elections in Nigeria since the inception of this democracy in 1999.
