3 days Ago By Anozie Egole
The Association of West African Exporters and Maritime Professionals has charged the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority to revisit the costs associated with its Export Processing Terminals. The exporters believe that the current pricing model is unsustainable and must be made more cost-effective, especially at a time when Nigeria is striving to remain competitive with other African countries in the fast-evolving global trade landscape. The President of AWAEMAP, Olubunmi Olumekun, made the call during the association’s end-of-year summit held in Lagos recently.
Olumekun highlighted the importance of revisiting the cost structure at the EPTs. He emphasised that Nigeria’s competitiveness in international trade, particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Area, depends on how well it can manage the costs associated with its export processes. “We are partners in progress with NPA, and we welcome the introduction of EPTs, as they bring added value to our businesses.
However, we still have some reservations that need to be addressed for this policy to be truly sustainable. The cost structure needs to be revisited,” Olumekun said. Olumekun pointed out that for charges at the terminals to be justified, they must align with the services provided.
“If we are being charged for services, the costs must directly correspond to the services rendered. There are several charges at the terminals that are not attached to specific services, and this is where we have an issue. Pricing must be adjusted to reflect the reality of today’s competitive market,” he added.
He stressed the importance of making the costs at the terminals more affordable, especially as Nigeria now faces stiff competition from other African nations. According to him, at a time when Nigeria is competing with other African countries for trade, “the pricing structure must be cost-effective. The high charges at the EPTs are a deterrent for many exporters, and this needs to be addressed urgently.
” Olumekun also urged the government to take a long-term view of Nigeria’s export growth. He pointed out that if Nigeria is serious about improving its foreign exchange earnings, it must focus on growing non-oil exports. “The future of Nigeria’s economy lies in expanding this sector.
This is the vision of AWAEMAP: to create a thriving non-oil export economy, one that will be sustainable and driven by innovation,” he said. Related News Unqualified entrants corrupting real estate sector - Operators NCAA to sanction airline operators for delayed tickets refund Lack of local content threatens bonded terminals – Operators Olumekun mentioned the enormous potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area, which he believes could transform Nigeria’s economy. He reiterated that AfCFTA presents a massive opportunity for Nigeria’s non-oil export sector, particularly in agriculture and other products.
Olumekun stressed that for Nigeria to fully take advantage of the opportunity, they need to make the export sector more competitive, “and that includes making sure that the cost of processing these exports is not prohibitively high.” In his response, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, acknowledged the challenges faced by Nigerian exporters in the past due to a lack of effective regulatory mechanisms.
Represented by NPA’s General Manager of Marine and Operations, Dr. Charles Okaga, Dantsoho assured stakeholders that there have been significant improvements in recent years and reiterated the Authority’s commitment to creating a more seamless export process. “NPA recognises the challenges Nigerian exporters have faced, particularly in terms of weak regulation.
But I can assure you that we have made significant strides in improving the regulatory environment,” Dantsoho said. According to him, the ETPs and transit parks have greatly eased some of the logistics challenges that previously hampered exports at Nigerian seaports. He emphasised that NPA was fully committed to making the export process as efficient and cost-effective as possible.
“The improvements we have made in export logistics have already begun to show positive results, and we are committed to ensuring that the processes are further streamlined to better serve Nigerian exporters,” he added. The Customs Area Controller in charge of the Lilypond Command assured stakeholders that the NCS remains focused on fostering the growth of Nigeria’s export trade, particularly in the non-oil sector. “The NCS understands the vital role exports play in the country’s economy.
We are committed to facilitating the growth of exports and will continue to support initiatives that enhance the efficiency of Nigeria’s export processes,” he said. He also reiterated the importance of collaboration between the government, regulatory bodies, and private sector stakeholders to ensure the sustainable growth of Nigeria’s export sector. “We must work together, as stakeholders, to create an enabling environment for the growth of exports,” Odusanya concluded.
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