By Izuchukwu Ozoemena

The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Lilypond Export Command,
Mr Ajibola Odusanya says the internal port access roads in Apapa need to be cleared to ensure seamless movement of export containers into the ports for outward shipping.

This is even as he lauds the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for contributing significantly to export facilitation by creating the Electronic Call-up System (ETO) and EPTs at the ports.

Controller Odusanya who stated this in Apapa,Thursday, while interacting with members of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) at the International Press Centre, said his Command can now process exports within a few hours. But accessing the Export Processing Terminal (EPT) especially in Apapa Port is delayed due to traffic gridlock on the internal port access road.

Transferring export containers to Apapa Port, Odusanya stated, has become a challenge in recent times as priority is placed on exiting import containers out of the port.

However, he assured that the NPA and APM Terminals are working to improve on the port internal traffic.

The CAC announced that processing of exports at the dedicated Lilypond Port has improved significantly, reducing processing time to a few hours.

As part of the country’s deliberate plans to improve exportation of non-oil products, the Nigeria Customs Service and the NPA, in 2022, reached an agreement to make the Lilypond Port an export processing port.

Due to the presence of all relevant agencies in the export port, the Lilypond Port Customs Controller said, processing of export goods have become very fast and seamless, leading to processing of about $2 billion worth of exports from the port between July and December 2024.

“Since after the MoU between Customs and NPA to streamline export to Lilypond Command in July 2024 and the command became the only command processing sea- bound export, we processed about $2 billion in that period between July and December, 2024.

“In February, 2025, we processed $225 million. This achievement is made possible by collaboration with other government agencies and port stakeholders.

“We now have the DSS, NDLEA, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the quarantine service dedicated to export at Lilypond Port. Now, with synergy with these sister agencies, export goods treated at Lilypond port are not stopped by any other agency on its way to Apapa or Tincan port. Such export will only be checked by Lilypond Customs officers at the port gate and not necessarily to open the container, except there is a security alert.”

He noted that the NPA and the terminal operators would not allow the ugly port access road situation in Apapa in the past to return.

“If you go to Lilypond now you will see many containers there, but the problem is not with processing of the exports in Lilypond, but the logistics aspect of moving the containers to the ports.

“Sometimes, even when you have obtained your ETO, you won’t be able to access the port. You see the trucks lined up on the road with export containers on them. We have to work on this so that we don’t return to what it was before.
We have to keep working hard to maintain the sanity on the port road,” Comptroller Odusanya emphasised

By Izuchukwu Ozoemena

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says it is ever ready to promote the equality of women and the girl-child to their male counterparts in the work place.

On this score, the agency will not relent in efforts to offer growth opportunities to all women and girls alongside their male counterparts and to practically create chances for them within and outside the NPA to be empowered to achieve the best in their abilities.

NPA Managing Director, Dr Dantsoho stated this in Lagos during the in-house celebration of the 2025 International Women’s Day (IWD) with the theme: ”Accelerate Action for Gender Equality”.

The agency, he announced, remains steadfast in participating in the International Women’s Day celebration and also creating systems and structures that promote women’s rights and empowerment in Nigeria.

He disclosed that the Authority has been actively recognising and advocating for women’s rights and equality in the Ports Authority, saying the organisation does not put any limit on the capacity of women and the opportunities available to them.

“For us in the Nigerian Ports Authority, we do not see IWD as another day to pay lip service to women’s rights and economic empowerment. Rather, it is a day to reflect on what we have done and to commit to doing even more.”

Some of laudable achievements of the agency in pursuit of championing women’s empowerment and gender equality, he explained, include extending the maternity leave period of women to six months and ensuring that pregnancy out of wedlock does not stop a woman from getting what is due to her.

Others are giving nursing mothers the privilege of reporting for duty one hour after the official resumption time and closing an hour earlier than the official closing time daily.

In addition, women who, by merit, qualify to handle key responsibilities at the agency like their male counterparts, are never denied such opportunity on account of sex.

In recent years, at least 12 women have qualified and served as General Managers and Port Managers. Currently, NPA has a woman, Mrs Vivian C. Richard-Edet, serving as Executive Director, Finance and Administration.

In addition to leadership roles, Dr Dantsoho explained, Nigerian women are embedded into the different units and arms of the NPA. This is as they work as pilots, in the fire service, as security officials, medical personnel and engineers within the Ports Authority.

“These are just some examples of the ways the NPA has and is actively recognising and advocating for women’s rights and equality. We do not put any limit on the capacity of women and the possibilities available to them,” he stated.

The MD however noted that despite the feats the NPA has recorded as an organisation, it is ‘not yet uhuru’ when women and girls are still being subjected to various forms of discrimination, inequality, injustice and abuse because of their gender.

“As an organisation, we promise to remain unrelenting in supporting the rights and equality for all women and girls and to practically create opportunities for women and girls within and outside the NPA to be empowered to the best of their abilities.”

He congratulated all women in the NPA for the year’s IWD and assured to continue to work with them especially when it comes to putting the Authority in the lead and providing opportunities for girls and women to actualize themselves in the maritime industry.

“Together, we will accelerate action for gender equality,” Dr Dantsoho assured.

IWD is a day set aside for recognising and honouring women’s achievements, highlighting the progress made towards achieving gender equality while calling for more efforts towards equitable societies, and advocating for increased laws, policies and actions that will end gender-based violence and all forms of discrimination against women.

Since 1911, when the first IWD was marked in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, March 8 and indeed the whole of March has become widely known as women’s history month with individuals and organisations across sectors and nations partaking in the commemoration.

By Izuchukwu Ozoemena

Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA),
Dr Dantsoho has commended the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, H.E. Gboyega Oyetola, for standing solidly behind the agency in all steps being taken in this dispensation to rehabilitate and reposition Nigerian ports.

Dantsoho stated this in Lagos, Tuesday, while speaking on the theme: “Improving the Competitiveness of Nigerian Ports in an Era of Regional Integration” at the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) Maritime and Logistics event.

He emphasized that the anticipated collapse of trade barriers across Africa will significantly boost intra-African trade.

To ensure that Nigerian ports take full advantage of the anticipated increase in intra-African trade as the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) regime takes root, he announced, the Agency is taking steps to enhance the competitive strategy and leadership position of Nigerian ports in the African continent.

Affirming NPA’s vision which is to be the Maritime Logistics Hub for sustainable port services in Africa, he said Nigerian ports must reposition to remain competitive and not lose their gateway traffic status to other ports.

“In the quest for our nation to optimize the benefits acruable from AFCFTA, there is no gainsaying that port plays a pivotal role as a nodal point in international logistics. Given the fact that port cost is a significant component of freight cost which ultimately affects the prices of goods in the market, this speaks to the imperativeness for our ports to be competitive and efficient.”

Therefore, he implored all strategic
players in the port system to join efforts with the NPA to ensure the actualization of this goal.
Speaking further on the quality of infrastructure, he explained that it affects transport costs, trade efficiency, and overall competitiveness.

Therefore, investments in inland terminals, logistic zones and rail networks can expand a port’s influence beyond its traditional hinterland and bring about efficiency that makes the port competitive, he explained.

Similarly, the NPA MD, noted that the macroeconomic environment of a country is intricately linked to its ports’ performance and competitiveness, saying factors such as inflation, exchange rates, and economic stability influence trade flows and investments.

The NPA boss further disclosed that NPA, in collaboration with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), is working towards the actualisation of this project.

“The Port Community System (PCS) is envisaged to culminate into the National Single Window (NSW) for maximum efficiency and competitiveness,” he said.