In line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration’s drive to diversify the national economy and reduce reliance on oil exports, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has inaugurated the first export processing terminal at Ibeshe-Ikorodu, in Lagos State. This comes ahead of the official launch and public presentation of the ten certified export processing terminals spread across Lagos and Ogun states.

Speaking at the EssLibra terminal, where the event took place, the Managing Director (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko, implored all agencies involved in the export processing value chain to deploy adequate staff, in plus working together to build efficiencies that ensure a quick turnaround for processing export boxes.

Congratulating the management of EssLibra Terminal for the quality of the terminal facilities, he assured them of NPA’s willingness to remove all obstacles that stand in the way of the transparent export of agro-allied products.

Bello-Koko instructed terminal operators to resist the temptation to hijack the export processing for which they were specifically designed, as the purpose of the terminals is to have a one-stop shop where all inspections, consolidations and Stuffing of goods for export freight will be carried out in a synchronized manner to eliminate all delays which have hitherto made Nigeria’s exports uncompetitive.

Speaking further, Bello-Koko said that the leadership of the NPA under his leadership is ready to effectively implement all government policies focused on promoting exports and deepening indigenous capabilities through the promotion of local content.

“We have learned about local content in the process of certifying these terminals, and that is why I expect the host community to take ownership of these terminals and support them, as their growth has a multiplier effect on the host community,” he said. .

Leading the NPA management team on the tour of the facility, the Managing Director of EssLibra Nigeria Limited, Mr. Yemi Adunola, thanked the NPA and its technical partners, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) for the support they received, ensuring the readiness of the business. to provide effective services and a commitment to continuous improvement through investment in the human capital and technology necessary for rapid delivery.

The EssLibra terminal, which is fully operational and ready for all export activities including stuffing, on-site customs clearance and barge transport to all terminals, is a 120,000 m² logistics center with a dedicated stack to empties, an export processing area, trailer park, roro facility and fuel dump. The terminal has more than 100 dedicated trucks, seven barges, two cranes and eight container handling equipment.