The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), through its Managing Director Abubakar Dantsoho, has defended the establishment of Export Process Terminals (EPTs), designed to streamline the complex process of exporting Nigerian goods.
Dantsoho emphasized that the EPTs were created to reduce bureaucratic delays and enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian exports in the international market. He explained that the terminals would serve as a one-stop-shop for cargo consolidation, documentation, packaging, certification, and the smooth onward shipment of goods, with an electronic call-up system to speed up port turnaround time.
The NPA MD also highlighted that the initiative aligns with the federal government’s ease of doing business agenda, aiming to strengthen port-hinterland connectivity and open export opportunities for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country.
However, the implementation of the NXP (Nigeria Exports Proceed) policy by the NPA has sparked significant concern among exporters. The NXP form, which mandates exporters to electronically declare details about the export commodities including type, quantity, value, and destination—has been criticized for slowing down the export process and adding additional complexities. Exporters, under the Association of West African Exporters and Maritime Professionals (AWAEMAP), have raised alarm about the policy, claiming that it is hindering trade rather than facilitating it.
According to AWAEMAP’s National President, Olubunmi Olumekun, since the policy’s implementation, there has been a noticeable increase in export-laden containers being delayed at ports due to challenges accessing them. He argued that the NXP policy, which was intended to simplify procedures, has instead worsened the situation, leading to confusion, financial setbacks, and a decline in export trade. Olumekun suggested that the government should revert to the Single Window arrangement as an interim solution.
In response, Comptroller Ajibola Odusanya of the Customs Area Controller, Lilypond Export Command, clarified that the NXP is a government policy supported by the Nigerian Customs Service. He urged the NPA and other relevant agencies to work together and find a swift resolution to the current crisis.
