From right: Managing Director/CEO, Nigerian Ports Authority NPA, Mohammed Bello Koko presents a plaque to the Ivorian Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Traore Kalilou during a courtesy visit to the Marina, Lagos headquarters of the NPA.

The Nigerian Ports Authority NPA, representing the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has said it is ready to strengthen the country’s economic relations with the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, most especially in the areas of port and shipping operations. This is with a view to nurturing the capacities of both countries to participate competitively in regional and global trade activities.

Acting Managing Director of the NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko made the disclosure while receiving a delegation from the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire who paid him a courtesy visit at the NPA corporate headquarters on Marina, Lagos.

The NPA boss stated that the Nigerian Government under the able 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, according to him, has also invested heavily in major public infrastructure upgrades, including construction of modern rail lines and deep seaport facilities, to boost the country’s international trade competitiveness as well as position Nigeria as gateway to the African economy.

He informed the delegation that one of the greenfield port projects, the Lekki Deep Seaport capable of handling ultra large cargo vessels, is scheduled to commence business by the second quarter of 2022. He also highlighted efforts by the authority to give priority to non-oil export trade.

He also disclosed that export processing terminals are now being established, to enable the country take advantage of opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area AfCFTA. He entreated the government and Ivorian businesses to increase their share of trade with Nigeria.

Bello-Koko assured the delegation that the NPA will do all that is required to address non- tariff barriers and restrictions to trade between the two sister countries, adding that there is room for information sharing, just as both countries need to cooperate more in the areas of joint training of personnel and technology transfer.

The NPA MD solicited the support of Republic of Cote d’Ivoire towards Nigeria’s candidacy for the next Secretary General of the Maritime Organisations for West and Central Africa MOWCA, considering the country’s status as a founding member and a major financial contributor.

The Ambassador in his address, described the bilateral relations between both countries as strategic, and that he looks forward to a review of existing agreements before the end of the year. He also commended the NPA management on its value adding interventions, which have raised the performance of Nigeria’s supply chain.