In a release, NPA attributed the leap in export to the licensing of 10 export processing terminals.

It added that the terminals, within the period under review, facilitated exports at Nigerian seaports.

“This move, which provided a one-stop shop for export processing where quality control, cargo assessment and statutory checks by all government agencies were carried out, was geared towards eliminating all bureaucracy and attendant delays that have hitherto undermined the competitiveness of Nigerian exports in the international marketplace

“The resultant effect of this initiative was a quantum leap in the numbers of Nigerian export-laden containers from 156,790 TEUs in 2022 to 226,456 TEUs in 2023,” the statement read partly.

NPA disclosed that it contributed to the deepening of Nigeria’s balance of trade through the promotion of exports, especially non-oiI exports in response to the national exigency of strengthening the naira.

It noted that to create new businesses and promote multi-modalism in line with global best practices as prescribed by the International Association for Ports and Harbours, it initiated barge operations services.

“Which, apart from reducing pressure on the roads, had grown into a N2bn annual generation business both from direct investment and accompanying externalities.” The authority added.

According to NPA, the movement of cargo by barge has greatly enhanced port-hinterland connectivity “as evidenced by the meteoric rise in numbers from a total of 80,244 TEUs in 2022, to 118,046 TUEs in 2023”.

The agency also said that it had also grown the number of ship calls sequel to the consistent dredging of channels, installation of buoys and improved security at the ports’ channels.

“The number of ship calls grew from 1,997 vessels in 2022 to 2,179 vessels at the end of 2023,” it remarked.

It disclosed that the Lekki Deep Seaport, which doubles as Nigeria’s first fully automated port at take-off, processed 6,076 TEUs of transhipment cargo.

According to NPA, this represented a swift move that signposted the agency’s readiness to cater to the maritime needs of Nigeria’s landlocked neighbouring countries and win back cargo hitherto lost to the country’s maritime neighbours.

It also stated that it sustained revenue performance during the period under review by looking beyond the sole dependence on earnings from core port operations.

“The authority has set public-private partnership modalities in motion to derive revenue from ports independent power production, bunkering stations, fallow lands for logistics, freshwater provision and ship repairs and maintenance and to insulate its income from leakages.

“The authority has firmed up its Revenue Invoice Management System to the cutting edge version of RIMs 2.0,” it asserted.

NPA also disclosed that it collaborated with the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas Ship Management Limited to deploy the vessel traffic service to complement the newly-equipped control towers across its locations to assure stakeholders of its domain awareness capacity for enhanced security and in response to emergent threats and vulnerabilities.

Dr. Ezra Yakusak, the Executive Director of NEPC, presented the first half-year progress report on non-oil export performance for 2023, highlighting the achievements and challenges faced by the sector.

Dr. Yakusak expressed optimism regarding the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and its potential to increase the volume and value of trade among African countries.

The figures presented by NEPC showed a slight decrease of 0.09 percent in non-oil export performance compared to the corresponding period in 2022.

Dr. Yakusak attributed this decline to factors such as the general election held in February/March 2023 and subsequent transition in government, which may have affected economic activities.

Additionally, changes in global economic conditions, including a slowdown in global demand and declining commodity prices, likely impacted non-oil export performance.

The report revealed that 224 different products were exported in the first half of 2023, encompassing manufactured goods, semi-processed items, solid minerals, and agricultural commodities.

Among the top 15 products exported during this period were urea, cocoa beans, cashew nuts/kernels, sesame seeds, and soya beans/meal, in that order.

A total of 1,058,791.27 metric tonnes of products worth $175.476 million, accounting for 6.91 percent of the total export value, were shipped to 13 Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries. Furthermore, 859 companies participated in the non-oil export trade during the review period.

Regarding financial institutions, 30 banks were involved in the issuance of Nigeria Export Proceed Forms (NXPs) for the first half of 2023.

Zenith Bank PLC processed the highest NXPs value at 38.11 percent, followed by United Bank of Africa (UBA) Plc at 10.50 percent and First Bank of Nigeria at 9.87 percent.

Dr. Yakusak expressed concern about the low volume of inter-African trade. No African country featured among the top 15 importers of Nigerian products.

Only 164,748.75 metric tonnes of products valued at $55.085 million were exported to various African countries, constituting 2.17 percent of the total export value recorded between January and June 2023.

In comparison, Vietnam alone imported products valued at $252,056,554.18, accounting for 9.93 percent of the total export value during the same period.

The Executive Director attributed the dip in export value in the first half of 2023 to the general elections and changes in global economic conditions.

NEPC reported that, between January and June 2023, pre-shipment inspection agents recorded 3,944,344.17 metric tonnes of products worth $2.539 billion exported.

The NEPC remains optimistic about the future of non-oil exports in Nigeria and is working towards overcoming the challenges faced by the sector.

With the implementation of the AfCFTA and continued efforts to expand trade within Africa, the Nigerian government aims to further boost the volume and value of non-oil exports, driving economic growth and development in the country.

The virtual event is intended to provide export business owners and entrepreneurs with the knowledge, skills, and strategies they need to succeed in the export trade sector.

Stanbic IBTC Bank recognizes the enormous potential of the export sector and offers solutions to assist businesses in overcoming challenges.

This groundbreaking webinar will bring together industry experts and successful exportation business owners to share their knowledge and insights on international trade on Friday, February 24, 2023.

Market research and product development will be discussed, as well as logistics, regulatory compliance, and financing options.

“This webinar is all about enabling businesses to take advantage of the opportunities in the export trade sector and to overcome the challenges they face,” says Chigozie Onyeocha, Head, Africa China Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank.

While crude oil accounts for the majority of Nigeria’s exports, many other resources have export value and the potential to generate additional revenue.

Unfortunately, a lack of funding and knowledge frequently stifles the growth of the exportation industry. That is why we are here: to assist businesses in succeeding by providing solutions, resources, and relationships to make the process easier.”

Chigozie urged Nigerian entrepreneurs not to pass up this opportunity to take their businesses to the next level and acquire the tools they need to succeed in the global marketplace.

The command area controller, Olakunle Oloyede, addressed this on Friday in Lagos.

He stated that the number is a growth of N80.90 billion, or 16.39 percent, over the N493.4 billion recorded in 2021.

“This accomplishment can be credited to the ongoing rejigging of the existing measures aimed at maintaining the command’s revenue profile,” he stated.

“It is as well as utilization of some disruptive strategic measures such as periodic capacity building, reshuffling, and redeployment of officers using the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis and implementation of the vehicle identification number (VIN) valuation.”

“These led to timely intelligence sharing, utilization and voluntary compliance to government’s extant laws by the trading public.”

Oloyede also highlighted some of the significant events that occurred at the port in 2022.

He stated that seizures included 763 kg of Colorado (cannabis sativa), 1,150 bales of used clothing, 1,190 containers of 20% potassium bromate, and baking powder, among other things.

“Also, 1,383 cartons of 50 cigarettes per carton, 650 cartons of 50 pieces per carton of new ladies shoes, 2,666 pieces in 36 pallets of new starter ex-premium inverter batteries, 1,980 cartons of assorted non-alcoholic beverages, and 1,048 cartons of Tilda basmati rice,” he said.

Officials recovered 2,594 rounds of ammunition and 20 weapons, including one pistol with the 611090 (S/W) model JCP 40mm, and one used CO2 air pistol with attachments for cal. 117 (4.5 mm) BM, one marksman repeater pistol, six Mace pepper guns, and ten suspected arms of various types, according to Oloyede.

“A total of 60 suspects were detained in 2022 and were granted administrative bail while the command has 8 cases pending in court,” he added.

Oloyede said the command recorded a significant increase in the free on board (FOB) of exports in the period under review to the tune of $589,696,648 (N242,365,322,333.00) as against the $496,075,796
(N141,985,109,159.00) recorded in 2021.

He attributed the increase of 34.4 percent in the FOB to the high quality and value of exported commodities.

“However, the export report shows a decrease in tonnage of export from 1,723,986.8 in 2021 to 336,179.5 in 2022,” he said.

“The decrease in tonnage could be connected to current government fiscal policy which prohibited the export of wood and wood products as well as the global unrest with its concomitant economic challenges.”

He listed the commodities exported through the command to include: cocoa beans, insecticides, dried ginger, empty bottles, soya beans, cashew nuts, cigarettes, rubbers, cocoa butter, frozen shrimps, copper ingots, aluminum ingots, and sesame seeds.

“Cocoa beans were the highest exported commodity while the legend stout was the least exported commodity,” he said.

“The future of export in the command looks brighter as the command in line with the headquarter circular on export Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) released a port order on the command’s harmonized SOP for the seamless facilitation of export trade in strict compliance with extant laws and guidelines on export.”

The Command also recorded a boom in the exportation of non-oil commodities with about 2.5 million metric tonnes, above the 540 metric tonnes in 2021.

The NCS is an independent customs service under the supervisory oversight of the Nigerian Ministry of Finance, responsible for the collection of customs revenue, facilitation of both national and international trade, and anti-smuggling activities.

Yusu said at a press conference in Lagos that figures show a significant increase of N156 billion or 42.54 percent when compared to the N366.5 billion collected in the corresponding period of 2021.

“This feat was made possible because of our officers’ resilience in ensuring identified revenue leakages have been mitigated while sustaining the level of compliance by the importers/stakeholders in the clearance value chain,” he said.

In the area of anti-smuggling, it intercepted dangerous items, resulting in the seizure of 83 containers with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N8.3 billion for the period under review.

He said, “the Command has consistently strived in its core mandates of revenue generation, prevention, and suppression of smuggling, trade facilitation, implementation of government fiscal policies as well as collaboration and cooperation with other government agencies to ensure ease of doing business in the port.

Exports

According to the Comptroller, export, the NCS recorded a boom in the exportation of non-oil commodities with about 2.5 million metric tonnes, above the 540 metric tonnes in the year 2021.

He noted that the Free on Board (FOB) value for the exported items also rose from $1.6 million in the year 2021 to $138 million in 2022.

“Items exported include steel bars, agricultural and mineral products amongst others The federal government policy and export incentive schemes have played vital roles in boosting export trade in Nigeria,” he said.

He said that for the period under review, the command curbed the smuggling of dangerous items, resulting in the seizure of 83 containers with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N8.3 billion.

“Some of the seized items include processed/unprocessed wood, 32 containers; five containers of unregistered pharmaceuticals, 18 containers of used clothing/shoes; 13 containers of foreign parboiled rice.

“Others are vegetable oil – seven containers, tomato Paste – three containers, and 1x20ft container laden with 150 cartons of tramadol,” he said.