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…As Nigerian exporters abandoned neigbouring ports
By Steve Agbota
Following the commencement of full operations of the Lilypond Export Processing Terminal Ijora, Nigeria will begin to process about 500 export boxes on a weekly basis through the nation’s seaports.
This is even as there are an increase in the volume of the export of Nigerian commodities through the nation’s seaport as exporters that used to export through the neighbouring countries are beginning to bring in their cargo through Nigerian ports.
As a result of the export processing terminal, the volume of post-harvest loss recorded by exporters of perishable agro-allied products is beginning to reduce and Nigeria begins to reap the gains of seamless processing of export commodities into the nation’s port.
Speaking during the on-the-spot assessment of the Lilypond Export Processing Terminal Ijora yesterday in Lagos, Managing Director of the NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko, said that 300 export containers from the Export Processing Terminals (EPTs) have been processed in the past two days as a result of teamwork and improved export procedures.
“The NPA set up export processing terminals to operate as a place where exporters can bring in exports, sort them out, process and document them before they can head straight to the port for boarding on the vessel.
“We give all the necessary support to the Federal Government initiative of increasing non-oil exports by going round to ensure that the standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that NPA put in place are actually working,” he said.
In the last nine days, he added that Lilypond has processed about 300 export containers, which was an increase of 60 per cent from the volume they were doing in the past.
However, he commended the Nigeria Customs Services for the efforts put into ensuring that the Export Processing Terminals function appropriately, saying that the acting Comptroller General has been helpful.
He hinted that the NPA management has had fruitful discussions with the new Customs management in terms of making a few amendments in the area of export processing by Customs and immediate action has been taken in that line.
“We will keep working with the Nigeria Customs and other government agencies that are involved in processing exports. The new CG has set up a Customs export desk the same way the NPA has set up an export processing desk,” he said.
According to him, Nigeria needs to seamlessly process its export trade to make them more competitive and ensure they arrive at their destinations on time.
He said there had been complaints that are related to bad roads, extortion and others, adding that the Authority has been proactive in handling the issues even though there are cases of exporters bringing in consignments to the terminal without the requisite documentation.
He said the NPA is working with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Customs, NAFDAC and other government agencies to sensitise the exporters and ensure that they understand the things that are required of them to reduce delays.
Meanwhile, Managing Director of the Diamond Star Export Processing Terminal in Ijora, Olatunji, Baale said that over 300 export boxes have been gated into the port in the last nine days without challenges, adding that the terminal has the capacity to process 500 export boxes on a weekly basis.
He said there is an NPA task force team that escorts the export boxes that are sent into the port in batches to prevent extortion and delays.
“We are fully ready for this operation, and we interface with customers online. We release the first batch of 40 export boxes by 10 am to the port while the second batch of 40 export boxes is released before close of business,” he said.
He added that the terminal has been operating skeletally since it was opened in November 2022 but has commenced full operations.
