Editor lll
On Thursday, the Nigerian Ports Authority stated its willingness to improve relations with the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire in the fields of port and maritime operations.
Mr Olaseni Alakija, NPA’s General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, signed a statement signed by Mohammed Bello-Koko, Acting Managing Director of NPA, in Lagos.
Bello-Koko made the remarks during a courtesy visit to the NPA corporate offices in Marina, Lagos, by a group from the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire.
He stated that the focus of the relationship would be on enhancing both countries’ capacities to compete in global and regional trade.
“The Nigerian Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari has introduced far reaching reforms to facilitate cross border trade, particularly nurturing a multimodal port system to reduce the cost of shipments in and out of the country.
“The Buhari-administration has also invested heavily in major public infrastructure upgrades, including construction of modern rail lines and deep seaports, to boost the international competitiveness of the country’s trade.
“This will as well position Nigeria as gateway to the African economy,” he said.
One of the Greenfield Ports, the Lekki Deep Seaport, which can handle ultra-large cargo vessels, will open in the second quarter of 2022, according to Bello-Koko.
He also emphasized the Authority’s efforts to prioritize non-oil export commerce.
Export processing stations are currently being built to take advantage of opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, he claims.
He urged the government and private sector in Ivory Coast to strengthen their commerce with Nigeria.
NPA’s managing director told the group that non-tariff barriers and trade limitations between the two countries will be addressed.
He went on to say that there was room for information exchange, and that both countries needed to work together more in areas like joint staff training and technology.
Nigeria’s nomination for Secretary-General of the Maritime Organization for West and Central Africa has received the backing of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire (MOWCA).
Nigeria, he noted, was a founder member of MOWCA and a substantial financial donor.
H.E. Traore Kalilou, Ambassador of Cote d’Ivoire to Nigeria, addressed the bilateral relations between the two countries in his speech.
Before the end of the year, Kalilou said he was looking forward to a review of existing agreements.
He praised the NPA’s management for its value-added interventions, which he said had improved the country’s supply chain’s performance.
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