Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, says the agency is repositioning the nation’s ports to enable it stay ahead rival ports.
He explained that by so doing, Nigerian ports will be able to take advantage of the expected increase in intra-African trade from the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Dantsoho disclosed this in his presentation on the theme, “Improving the competitiveness of the Nigerian ports in an era of regional integration”, at the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce event in Lagos.
Stating that Nigeria’s vision is to be Africa’s maritime logistics hub for sustainable port services, the NPA chief executive noted that with the collapse of trade barriers across the continent, intra-African trade is expected to significantly increase.
Therefore, it is imperative for Nigerian ports to reposition and become competitive, in order not to lose their gateway traffic to other nations’ ports.
According to him, the fact that port cost is a significant component of freight cost, which ultimately affects the prices of goods in the market, speaks to the imperativeness for Nigerian ports to be competitive and efficient.
