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The Nigerian Ports Consultative Council (NPCC) and key maritime industry stakeholders are set to examine how improved trade facilitation, efficient port processes and reduced bottlenecks can strengthen the competitiveness of Nigeria’s seaports.
The discussion will form part of the Council’s second quarterly meeting scheduled for Thursday, September 17, 2026, at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Chairman of the NPCC, Bolaji Sunmola, said the meeting would focus on practical measures to simplify cross-border trade and improve the ease of doing business at Nigerian ports.
He said the engagement was particularly significant as Nigeria seeks to maximise the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which requires efficient ports and seamless trade processes to facilitate the movement of goods across African markets.
According to him, the theme of the meeting, “Simplifying Cross Border Trade and Enhancing Ease of Doing Business at Our Ports,” reflects the growing need to remove procedural and operational barriers that increase the cost and time of doing business.
Sunmola said deeper African economic integration would require Nigeria to improve the efficiency of its ports, streamline cross-border procedures and address persistent trade bottlenecks that could undermine the competitiveness of Nigerian businesses and ports.
The quarterly meeting is expected to bring together representatives of government agencies, regulatory bodies, port operators, logistics companies and other private-sector stakeholders.
Discussions are expected to centre on practical interventions to facilitate trade, improve cargo movement, reduce delays and strengthen the overall efficiency and competitiveness of Nigeria’s port system.
The outcome of the engagement could provide further impetus for reforms aimed at positioning Nigerian ports to compete more effectively within the African and global maritime trade environment.
