NPA showcases potentials of non-oil export at Lagos Trade Fair

…As Cotonou Ports debut at fair

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The neglect of the huge non- oil export has prompted the Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA), to champion the cause of making them visible at this year’s annual Lagos International Trade Fair.

Further geared towards making the public feel the exports impacts, NPA keyed into the fair’s working theme of, “Connecting Businesses, Creating Value”, stocked its stand at the fair with an epic structure and messages.

The vision nonetheless attracted more visitors to the stand and fair given that it prioritised the promotion of Non-oil Exports.

Asuquo

NPA Managing Director, Dr. Dantsoho, who was represented at the fair by Mr. Okon Asuquo, Principal Manager, Tariff & Billing along with other highly responsive NPA officials who were equally on hand to sensitize, inform, and educate the public, visiting their stand to build partnerships beyond the trade fair.

An official at the fair, Mrs Eunice Mbah, revealed that most visitors who came into their stand noted their epic structure and the intended message.

Further stated that each year at their stand had always shown a plus in terms of accomplishments, against the previous year.

Mbah also observed the participation of a neighbouring port.

“The Port Autonome De Cotonou is visiting the Lagos Trade Fair for the first time to explore business ties in Nigeria, and the Management of Nigerian Ports Authority, led by Dr. Dantsoho”, she said, stressing that the NPA MD was already working assiduously to ensure the realization of the theme of this year.

She emphasized a cardinal goal of the NPA Boss is ensuring that the nation’s Port retains her hub status amongst the ports of West and Central Africa.

L-R: Mr Subair Adebayo Taiwo, the C&SC Officer 11, Mr Cyril Tanko Dashe, Principal Manager, Corporate & Strategic Planning; Mbara Francisca Chinyere, Principal Manager PPP, Mr Okor Asuquo: Principal Manager, Tariff & Billing; Eunice Mbah, Principal Manager, Corporate & Strategic Communications; Olatunde Damilola Seun, Clerical Officer; and Ogboji John Adakole, a revered officer from the Security Unit all NPA team at the fair

The NPA’s Day on Saturday, a tradition annually practised, makes it possible for heads of various organisations to speak on the core values of their establishment and how the trade fair is beneficial to their various organisation.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr Dantsoho, lauded this year’s trade fair theme – “Connecting Businesses, Creating Value”, as sacrosanct to the NPA’s agenda in ensuring the promotion of non-oil exports becomes simpler and impactful.

He said Export Process terminals (EPTs) which was in conjunction with the Nigerian Exports Promotion Council (NEPC) served as a one-stop shop for the stuffing, packaging, and certification of export-bound cargo in quick turnaround time, in a bid to ensure Nigerian exports are competitive in the international market.

NPA stand at the Fair

This is to also facilitate the Port’s focus on hinterland connectivity, and the creation of pathways for Small and Medium Scale Enterprise (SMEs) to boost their relevance in the value chain, even as the EPTs are also being linked with Domestic export warehouses (DEWs) in synergy with the NEPC and other relevant partners.

He affirmed his office and his think tank team were vigorously pursuing the full automation of processes and procedures through the Ports Community (PCS), which lays the groundwork for the implementation of the National Single Window (NSW) a recognised global strategy for delivering the greatest value with the greatest ease, by connecting all stakeholders in the trade value chain for seamless interaction at the push of bottom.