To achieve its set revenue target for the year, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has mapped out strategies to partner other stakeholders. Habib Abdulahi, Managing Director of NPA said that the organisation would encourage exports to achieve its revenue target of $1.2 billion for 2016.
According to him, NPA is reaching out to the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), and the ministries of Agriculture and Solid Minerals to work out other means of assisting in diversifying revenue sources for government, especially in growing exports for the country.
Abdulahi said NPA may even surpass its target if the current economic indices improve. He said the agency would dedicate some port terminals to export hubs for agriculture and solid minerals. He revealed that there are proposals for ports that would be solely dedicated to the export of agricultural produce and the Ilaje port in Ondo for solid minerals export. To achieve this, NPA is already working out strategy with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). The terminal operators are expected to support the success of the programme.
This would not only help in the diversification of the economy but also compensate the ports for revenue loss, as there was the need to utilise the empty containers in the ports.
For Abdullahi, the primary responsibility of the NPA is to raise more revenue for government and assist in expanding the economy. This, he assured, the NPA is doing by encouraging export promotion and foreign direct investment.
The NPA boss said that the agency would ensure smooth operations at the ports. According to him, they have so far developed an inter-modal type of transportation system, railways and motor roads within the ports to ease congestion.
By Pita Ochai