- NEPC Reports Record 19.59% Growth in Nigeria’s Non-Oil Exports for H1 2025
By Jennete Ugo Anya
In a decisive push to cement Nigeria’s position as a leading export hub in Africa, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has charged his management team to double down on improving port efficiencies — the very backbone of the country’s rising export performance in 2025.
Speaking at the recently concluded NPA Management Retreat in Onne, Rivers State, Dr. Dantsoho commended the synergy between the NPA and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), which has been instrumental in driving record non-oil export numbers through Nigerian ports.
“We are proud of the excellent work being undertaken by the NEPC, as evident in the increased export numbers passing through our platforms. But we cannot rest on our laurels. We must commit to a continuous improvement paradigm of port operations and service delivery that places high premium on sustainability,” Dr. Dantsoho stated.
READ ALSO:
New Tax Act Empowers NRS To Secure Loans, Enhance Enforcement, Deepen Fiscal Autonomy
A Compendium Of Reforms, Successes And Achievements Of President Tinubu
The NPA boss underscored that minimizing environmental impact, promoting social responsibility, and ensuring long-term economic viability are now global benchmarks for port systems — and Nigeria must not be left behind.
“We owe posterity a duty to infuse sustainability paradigms into the way we do things,” he added.
The retreat, themed “Repositioning the Nigerian Ports System for Sustainability”, was a high-level strategy session to review and optimize operational processes. As part of the discussions, the NPA management undertook a Business Process Re-engineering exercise to identify bottlenecks, eliminate inefficiencies, and adopt a more customer-centric approach to service delivery.
A key outcome was the signing of a Performance Bond, committing the Authority to operational excellence in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic priorities, as directed by the Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola.
The retreat coincided with fresh data from the NEPC showing that Nigeria’s non-oil exports hit an unprecedented milestone in the first half of 2025. According to the NEPC, exports reached US$3.225 billion, up by 19.59% from the same period in 2024. Export volumes also rose sharply to 4.04 million metric tonnes.
This surge is partly credited to the success of NPA’s Export Processing Terminals (EPT), developed in partnership with the NEPC, which have streamlined the movement of goods for international markets.
Adding to the optimism, the Eastern Port of Onne recently hosted the maiden call of MV Ocean Dragon, the first wholly Nigerian-owned container vessel. The ship, which will operate weekly from Onne via the Calabar channel, is set to connect Nigerian ports with destinations across West, Central, and Southern Africa — including Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Egypt, and South Africa.
For Dr. Dantsoho and his team, the message is clear: the gains recorded in 2025 must be sustained through innovation, efficiency, and environmental stewardship. With non-oil exports on a strong upward trajectory and Nigerian shipping making bold new strides, the NPA is positioning itself not just as a trade facilitator, but as a driver of national economic resilience.
