The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, has described Abuja’s strategic location and agro-allied potential as critical levers for boosting Nigeria’s non-oil revenue base.
Speaking at the “NPA Special Day” during the Abuja International Trade Fair, Dantsoho said the capital’s centrality offers a unique advantage in linking Nigeria’s agricultural value chains to global markets, a key priority in the Federal Government’s diversification agenda.
He noted that developing local value chains for agro-allied products would position Nigerian goods more competitively in international markets, especially with improved port-hinterland connectivity. “Harnessing the comparative advantages across Nigeria’s regions is central to increasing both the volume and value of exports,” he said.
Dantsoho explained that the NPA had simplified export processes through the creation of Export Processing Terminals (EPTs), designed as one-stop hubs for cargo consolidation, packaging, certification, and documentation. Integrated with Domestic Export Warehouses in partnership with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council and Inland Dry Ports, the initiative also opens new pathways for SMEs to participate actively in exports.
He further disclosed that the NPA was implementing the Ports Community System (PCS), a unified digital gateway that will serve as a precursor to Nigeria’s National Single Window. The system is expected to streamline trade processes, reduce bureaucracy, and align Nigeria with global best practices in trade facilitation.
According to him, the NPA remains committed to strengthening non-oil revenue generation and has put in place measures to connect value creators across Nigeria to clusters of international demand. He added that the Abuja International Trade Fair provided a timely platform to promote such opportunities, describing trade as a powerful tool for national development.
