The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has flagged off the first non-oil export processing terminal in Ibeshe-Ikorodu in Lagos state in line with the agenda of Nigerian government to diversify the economy and reduce dependence on oil exports.
The event, according to local media reports on Monday, is coming ahead of the official launch of the 10 certified export processing terminals, spread across Lagos and Ogun States.
The Managing Director of NPA, Mohammed Bello Koko, said at the flag-off ceremony on Friday that all the agencies involved in the export processing value chain should deploy adequate personnel and work together to ensure efficiency and quick turnaround in the processing of export cargoes.
He commended the management of EssLibra for the quality of facilities at the terminal and assured them of the readiness of the 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 the 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.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of EssLibra Terminal, Yemi Adunola, thanked the NPA and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) for supporting the project and pledged his company’s readiness to render efficient services.
According to the reports, the export processing terminal covers an area of 120,000sqm and has the export processing zone, trailer park and fuel dump. The facility is also equipped with over 100 dedicated trucks, 7 barges, 2 cranes and 8 container handlers.
