NPA Earmarks $1.1bn for Port Rehabilitation

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), on Tuesday, said it is committed to investing about N890 billion ( $1.1 billion) in the rehabilitation of all the seaports in Nigeria.

Mohammed Bello Koko, the Managing Director of NPA, disclosed this during a panel session at the 43rd PMAWCA (Port Management Association of West and Central Africa) conference held in Lagos yesterday.

He said the investment was to ensure a strong commitment to fortify Nigeria’s trade competitiveness to harness the gains in the Blue Economy.

He added that the NPA was initiating a substantial overhaul, starting with the TinCan and Apapa ports in Lagos.

He further said the objective of the authority was to enhance the physical infrastructure of the ports to accommodate vessels of all sizes and increase the draft at the quay side with the aim of achieving draft depths of up to 14 metres, which would render Nigerian ports more competitive on a global scale.

Disclosed that he survey for deploying cargo rail and tracks to Onne port had been completed, setting the stage for the project to kick off next year.

To streamline operations and reduce costs, Koko said NPA was embracing automation.

He further said, “The authority has automated its collection system and is collaborating with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to introduce a state-of-the-art port community system, poised to optimize cargo clearance processes.”

Speaking earlier, Mr Martin Boguikouma, President of PMAWCA, urged African countries to address challenges facing the region to be able to receive the new volume of traffic that would emerge due to AfCFTA.