In keeping with the resolve of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to diversify the national economy and reduce dependence on oil exports, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has flagged off the first Export Processing Terminal in Ibeshe-Ikorodu, Lagos State. This is coming ahead of the official launch and public presentation of the ten certified Export Processing Terminals spread across Lagos and Ogun states.
Speaking at the EssLibra Terminal, where the event took place, the Managing Director (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko, implored all agencies involved in export processing value chain to deploy adequate personnel, aside working in concert to put in place the efficiency that will assure quick turnaround time for processing of export boxes.
Commending the management of EssLibra Terminal for the quality of facilities at the terminal, he assured them of the readiness of NPA to remove all impediments standing in the way of the seamless export of agro-allied goods.
Bello-Koko charged the operators of the terminals to resist the temptation to veer off export processing which they were purpose-built for, as the rationale behind the terminals 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 all the delays that hitherto rendered Nigeria’s exports uncompetitive.
Speaking further, Bello-Koko said the NPA management under his watch is poised to efficiently implement all government policies geared towards the promotion of exports and the deepening of indigenous capacity through the promotion of local content.
“We took cognizance of local content in the certification process of this terminals, and this is why I expect the host community to take frontline ownership of these terminals and support them, since their growth has a multiplier effect on the host community,” he said.
Conducting the NPA management team on the tour of the facility, the Managing Director, EssLibra Nigeria Limited Mr. Yemi Adunola, thanked the NPA and its technical partners, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) for the support enjoyed, assuring of the company’s readiness to render efficient services and a commitment to continuous improvement through investment in human capital and the technology required for speedy delivery.
The EssLibra Terminal, which is fully operational and ready for all export activities including stuffing, on-site Customs clearance and barging to all terminals, is a 120,000sqm logistic hub with a dedicated empties stack, export processing zone, trailer park, roro facility and fuel dump. The Terminal has over a 100 dedicated trucks, seven barges, two cranes and eight container handling equipment.
