JOURNAL NG: NPA Reveals How Automation Boost Exportation  At Lagos Ports Complex

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on Thursday, disclosed that deployment of technology has helped to increase exports throughput from 30 to 35 percent annually in the last three years at Apapa port.

The Managing Director of NPA, Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko made this know while speaking at the 3rd JournalNG Port Industry Town Hall meeting in Lagos on Thursday.

Speaking at the event themed: “Essence of Automation to Productive Blue Economy, the NPA boss who was represented by the Port Manager, Apapa Port, Mr. Charles Okaga, stated that the deployment of automation has enabled the Authority enhance its operations leading to increase in exports from 30 percent to 35 percent in the last three years.

The MD reiterated that: “For our total throughput for Apapa port, we have about 35 percent export. Since 2021 export moved steadily from 30 percent and it also increased further in 2022. This is attributable to the establishment of the NPA Export Processing Terminals to eliminate factors that act as a clog in the wheel of logistics and ease of doing export business.”

“We must also note that we have enjoyed port stakeholders buy-in and support from several government agencies. It is also worthy to note that the presidency through the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) has played a key role in driving this agenda with NPA,” he said.

The NPA boss also noted that Export Processing Terminals presently enjoy technologically enhanced connectivity to ports and other infrastructure like Truck Transit Parks (TTPs) which simplify the access to ports and eliminates delays that formerly led to expired Agro-Exports.

He explained that the vessel waiting time at the berths have been reduced to few hours, describing this as a major development from the former 1-6 day waiting time.

Also speaking, the Area Controller, Kirikiri Lighter Command, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Timi Bomodi stressed that Nigeria’s hope of attracting Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) into the blue economy sector wouldn’t be realized without adequate data to guide investments.

Bomodi, however, opined that automation could be channeled towards the collation of such vital data to guide local investments, government policies and ultimately attract FDIs.

The Customs boss, however, admonished all port stakeholders to develop and publish their Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and ensure they adhere to these SOPs to avail port users a high degree of certainty on port processes.

According to him, the absence of SOPs at ports leads to ambiguity and hampers the ease of doing business.