Managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, has said that Nigeria ports receive the largest volume of freight destined for West African ports from the port of Antwerp, Belgium yearly.
Dantsoho who disclosed this after receiving the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Nigeria, Pieter Leenknegt, said Nigeria has the biggest market share of over six million tonnes from Antwerp port annually.
The NPA boss, however, expressed readiness to deepen bilateral ties with the kingdom of Belgium in order to increase efficiency of the nation’s seaports and record growth in trade volumes between the two countries.
Dr Dantsoho also stated that the minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has given the authority necessary backing to enhance Nigeria’s share in the trade statistics of West and Central Africa.
“The annual volume of West African freight in Antwerp amounts to almost 17 million tonnes resulting in a market share of 31 per cent. Nigeria, with a volume of over 6 million tonnes, accounts for the largest part.
“The port of Antwerp is known in Africa as the maritime centre of Europe, owing to the numerous supply chain connections. The synergy between maritime, logistics and industrial activities creates a unique platform. Out of all the ports in North-West Europe, the Belgian Port of Antwerp has the highest number of direct services to West Africa.
“The annual volume of West African freight in Antwerp amounts to almost 17 million tonnes resulting in a market share of 31 per cent. Nigeria, with a volume of over 6 million tonnes, accounts for the largest part.”
Dr Dantsoho also disclosed readiness of the authority to leverage on the technical know-how of the Port of Antwerp, Belgium, to operationalise the Port Community System (PCS).
He argued that leveraging on Antwerp port technical know-how will prepare the country towards actualising the forthcoming National Single Window Project of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.
“This meeting is focused on leveraging the know-how of the Antwerp Port Community in the area of Port operational efficiency to add fillip to the Authority’s effort at operationalizing the Port Community System (PCS) as quickly as possible in readiness for the forthcoming National Single Window Project of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration,” he stated