With growing competition from ports in Togo, Ghana, and the Republic of Benin, Nigeria’s maritime sector must take urgent steps to maintain its position as the preferred choice for shippers. This is according to the Chairman of the Nigerian Port Consultative Council (NPCC), Mr. Bolaji Sunmola.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Shipping Position Daily, Sunmola expressed concern over Nigeria’s failure to maximize the economic benefits of its large consumer market. He lamented that while Nigeria remains a dominant consumer hub in West Africa, it is not reaping the ancillary profits associated with trade and port operations, leaving competitors to take advantage.
“It’s a shame that Nigeria is a consumption centre, but it’s not the beneficiary of all the ancillary profits that come with what we consume. When we talk about the whole of West Africa, I think we consume more than 70% of the goods in the region. We have the population, and our GDP is even one of the best. With a country of more than 200 million people and enormous resources, no regional power should be able to compete with our economy. However, for Nigeria’s ports to dominate, they must wake-up and put the right systems in place”, Sunmola stated.
The NPCC Chairman commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for pushing the implementation of the National Single Window; a trade facilitation tool aimed at streamlining port processes, reducing bureaucracy, and improving cargo clearance efficiency. According to him, unlike past administrations that merely discussed reforms without execution, this government is ensuring that the Single Window system is backed by action.
“That’s why I give kudos to the National Single Window initiative that this present government is ensuring. It’s not just talk; there is real action behind it. We need that to simplify our processes and eliminate bottlenecks,” he noted.
Beyond the Single Window system, Sunmola emphasized that Nigeria must prioritize ease of doing business, ensuring that the conditions for investors, businesses, and logistics operators are conducive. He stressed that while no country can have a completely trouble-free business environment, the government must ensure that investments in the maritime sector are protected from uncertainty and policy inconsistencies.
“Nigeria should put its acts together and ensure that the ease of doing business is prioritized. No investor wants to put in years of work and then see their business collapse due to policy flip-flops or excessive regulation. A stable, business-friendly environment is critical to our success in the maritime sector,” he said.
Sunmola was optimistic that once the Single Window and other trade facilitation initiatives take full effect, so-called ‘white ports’; smaller competing ports in West Africa will struggle to match Nigeria’s economic potential. He pointed out that ongoing discussions around port development and offshore investments are also a step in the right direction.
“Once we make trade easier, we will see a tremendous effect on our economy, and those rival ports will fade away. I know there is a lot of talk about port development and offshore investments, and these will significantly boost activities in our ports and ensure we meet any challenges thrown at us by our competitors,” he added.
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