By Foster Obi
Motoring/Maritime Editor
Despite the twists and turns in the economy, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is creating strategic partnerships and encouraging exports to achieve its revenue target of $1.2 billion for 2016.
NPA Managing Director, Habib Abdullahi, said the NPA is reaching out to the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Ministries of Agriculture and Solid Minerals to help diversify revenue streams, especially in growing exports.
According to him, the NPA may even surpass its target if economic indices improve, adding that it is set to dedicate some port terminals to agriculture and solid minerals exports.
The NPA is collaborating with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on how to achieve the milestone.
Abdullahi said this would help diversify the economy and compensate for revenue loss, as there is an urgent need to utilise the many idle containers in the ports and those being taken away empty.
For him, the primary responsibility of the NPA is to raise more revenue for the government and assist in expanding the economy and reducing dependence on oil.