Nigeria Exports Jump Over 25% as Ports Revenue Quadruples – NPA MD Dantsoho

By Samuel Akpan

Nigeria’s non-oil exports have surged by more than 25 per cent in two years, powered by deliberate federal reforms that are also lifting cargo volumes and port revenue, the Nigerian Ports Authority Managing Director/CEO Abubakar Dantsoho has said.

Speaking at the International Association of Ports and Harbours’ Annual World Ports Conference in London, Dantsoho credited the gains to policy consistency and private-sector collaboration.

“Exports from Nigeria in the last two years have increased by 25 per cent. These are not mainly oil and gas; manufacturing and agriculture—cocoa, cashew and other raw materials—have all grown,” Dantsoho said.

He linked the rise to partnerships with major terminal operators, especially APM Terminals, and to Nigeria’s large population advantage within West and Central Africa.

The NPA has established about four Export Processing Terminals where it works with terminal operators, the Nigeria Customs Service and other agencies so that cargo is fully processed to international standards before leaving the country.

“By the time it is exported out of Nigeria, there will not be issues regarding standards,” Dantsoho said.

The same reforms have positioned Nigeria to lead under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

“Nigeria’s economy is very strong now because of our president’s reforms, which are attracting investors,” he said.

He cited active idea exchange with Morocco, now a hub for electric-vehicle manufacturing, and ongoing ties with South African partners as evidence of expanding intra-African trade.

Two Nigerian ports now rank among the global top 20 in the latest World Bank ranking—an outcome Dantsoho attributed to efficiency, technology and results-oriented collaboration.

“This is the result of hard work and efficiency. The efficiency in the ports in Nigeria is far better now than those of other West African countries,” he affirmed.

Port revenue has quadrupled and volumes have risen sharply, driven by the same partnerships. Infrastructure expansion and modernisation, however, still require substantial private capital.

NPA is already working with APM Terminals and other large investors, completed a single-window system with a Singapore firm a year ago, and is developing a port community system with an Abu Dhabi company, alongside broader business-to-business private-sector ties.