The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman has assured that the Authority has put in place necessary facilities to play a pivotal role in the Federal Government’s drive to promote the export of solid minerals and Agricultural produce through the nation’s seaports.
Speaking at the official flag off of the Nigeria Yam Export Programme (NYEP) to the United Kingdom Thursday at the Lily Pond Container Terminal Apapa, the Managing Director expressed pleasure to be part of the export of non – oil export through the Port, adding that Nigeria was richly blessed in the agricultural sector and that time had come for the nation to step up in the area of exportation of yam, being the largest producer of the product in the world.
Usman informed the gathering that NPA was already looking at prioritizing some terminals strictly for export among which she said was Ikorodu, adding that the only challenge with Ikorodu Terminal was the problem of low head room of the three bridges across the lagoon.
She however assured that several alternatives were being considered.
The NPA boss emphasized that the development of intermodal transportation system would help a great deal especially rail link to the Ports which would cover almost 3,500km of existing narrow gauge lines from the South West commercial capital, Lagos to Kano in the North East rail lines.
She added that while it was important for Nigerians to return to the farm to produce enough yams for both local consumption and export, Usman pledged that everything would be done to guarantee smooth exportation from the Ports.
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