By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has approved the establishment of 10 new export terminals across the country with a view to processing export cargoes and boosting the nation’s foreign exchange (forex) earnings.
This was disclosed by the NPA Managing Director, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, in Lagos, who noted that about three of the approved terminals have commenced operations.
Mr Bello-Koko also said that five of these export terminals are in Lagos, one in Ogun State and others in the other parts of the country.
“Before the CBN made that appeal, we have already proactively taken steps to ensure that is done. We gave licenses to 10 export processing terminals. And the essence of those terminals is first of all for exporters, especially for the export of agro produce, minerals to be able to take their exports to those locations.
“They should be sorted there, they should be processed there, they should be tested, they should be certified, packaged and then containerized if that is what they want to do. And the container should be sealed, and then from that location, the container should be taken directly into the port and then into the vessel.
“What we are doing here is to reduce the cost to the exporters, reduce the time that it takes to export these goods out, and then make the process faster and seamless actually.
“And out of the ten I think three or four are operating, there are awaiting, you know there ought to be a Nigeria Customs export desk at such locations. And every other federal government agency that is necessary to enable export should be at those terminals. And we have written to all the relevant government agencies to have a presence at those locations.
“So, we have already taken that initiative before the CBN Governor came up with that initiative. And we also link up our export processing terminals to the DEW that is been created by the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC).
“Those ones are in the hinterland. There is also the Domestic Export Warehouse, DEW, we linked them with eight or so of the export processing terminals, so as to make it easier for the goods to come into the port.
“So, we have taken the initiatives, and yes we have listened to the CBN Governor. What he was asking for is a dedicated expert terminal, which means a terminal by the sea, with a berth and others to take away vessels. It is something that is in the map, in the drawing but what we have done is to create something like that outside the port, and then we move it into the port. And we have encouraged all terminal operators to also have warehouses and necessary facilities for non-oil export
“We gave licenses to ten exporting terminals and the essence is to first of all for exporters of agricultural products and natural mineral resources to be able to take their exports to those locations.
“These export products will be sorted, processed, tested, certified, containerized and sealed if need be and from there, the export product be taken directly into the port and onto the vessel,” he said.
The Nigerian currency has been suffering at the currency market because of low FX earnings from crude oil sales.
