Streamlining Nigeria's Ports: A Collaborative Push for Efficiency By NPA

By Justin Huholds

In a bid to bolster Nigeria's ease of doing business, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) recently convened a high-level stakeholder engagement in Lagos. The three-day session, "Achieving a 7-Day Cargo Dwell Time," brought together key players from the ports and customs sectors to tackle operational inefficiencies plating the nation's maritime industry.

PEBEC Director General Zahrah Mustapha emphasized that the goal is to move beyond discussion to implementation, highlighting the significant economic losses Nigeria incurs due to delays. "These are not just numbers; they represent missed opportunities, jobs not created, and delayed economic growth," Mustapha stated.

The initiative integrates government regulators and private sector stakeholders to ensure transparency and accountability, aiming to reduce cargo dwell time and improve vessel turnaround time. NPA Managing Director Abubakar Dantsoho reaffirmed the Authority's commitment to supporting PEBEC's mandates, citing progress in deploying the Port Community System (PCS), a digital backbone for the National Single Window.

The NPA's achievements include a 100% success rate in PEBEC reforms, ranking 5th among agencies in 2025 with an 84.2% compliance rating. The outcomes of this engagement are expected to be implemented within the coming months, paving the way for a more competitive maritime environment that attracts investment and facilitates seamless trade.