The Nigerian Ports Authority recorded various levels of increase in its cargo throughput in the three major ports, namely: Apapa, Rivers and Delta ports.
While Apapa Port’s cargo throughput increased by 4.01 per cent from 268 in the fourth quarter of 2016 to 279 in the first quarter of 2017, Rivers Port’s throughput increased by 23 per cent from 71 in the fourth quarter of 2016 to 90 in the first quarter of this year.
Similarly, Delta Port recorded 116 in the first quarter against 111 in the last quarter of 2016, signifying an increase of four per cent.
The agency attributed the increase to the various interventions in the foreign exchange market by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
It noted in a report that the interventions, which resulted in stability and access to forex in the market, aided shippers to place orders for their consignments.
It stated that in the period under review, there was a significant improvement in the number of vessel traffic over the last quarter of 2016.
The report stated in part, “In all of these, the NPA’s role is to facilitate trade. Consequently, with stability and access to forex with positive impact on trade and commerce, this has helped increase activities at the port.
“This is against the backdrop of positive correlation between port performance and performance of the economy, which is currently in ascendency as the country is fast exiting recession.”
The agency noted further in the report that there was always a time lag between policy formulation and feasible impact on the economy and port performance.
“As a consequence, three months will be too short to make an objective assessment of the new policy regime. Nevertheless, all known indicators are heading towards improved economy.”
On the organisation’s role to ensure prompt clearance of goods, the Principal Manager, Public Affairs, NPA, Nasiru Ibrahim, said that among other structures, a feedback service had been provided using the agency’s Service Compact Department.
He added that the agency had convened a meeting with heads of all government agencies operating in the ports to map out plans for effective coordination.
