He remarked that the port was better positioned to support international trade within and outside Africa, adding that the management of the NPA was collaborating with sister agencies and, private sector operators to ensure the port met user needs.

“When you have a facility that encourages this type of trade facilitation principle, it is bound to have a direct impact on the overall trade volume of the country. As we speak, in 2022, for instance, we had a total of about 50,000 TEUs of export containers. Whereas in 2023, we had over 70,000 and that is definitely an increase in the volume of exports that is leaving the country through LPC alone,” the port manager declared.

He added that the figure showed a 20,000 increase achieved through the enabling business environment created in partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service and other government agencies and stakeholders.

According to Okaga, export is a very critical element of the national economy, particularly with the government’s agenda of diversification of the economy to non-oil export, stressing that Nigeria’s largest port complex is ready to participate and contribute to the African Continental Free Trade Area.

He added that the management of NPA had put measures in place to remove all difficulties associated with import and export through the port.

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