The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Hadiza Bala Usman has said that NPA is already looking at prioritizing some terminals strictly for export of yam. She noted that NPA has put in place necessary facilities to play a pivotal role in the government’s drive to promote the export of solid minerals and Agricultural produce through the nation’s seaports. Usman stated this at the official flag off of the Nigeria Yam Export Programme (NYEP) to the United Kingdom today at the Lily Pond Container Terminal Apapa past week. The NPA boss expressed pleasure to be part of the export of non – oil export through the port, adding that Nigeria is richly blessed in the agricultural sector and that time has come for the Nation to step up in the area of exportation of yam, being the largest producer of the product in the world. Usman said Ikorodu Lighter Terminal, which is among terminals being considered for prioritising, has the challenge of low head room of the three bridge across the lagoon, assuring that several alternatives are being considered. Usman pledges that everything would be done to guarantee smooth exportation from the ports, adding that it was important for Nigerians to return to the farm to produce enough yams for both local consumption and export. MD NPA emphasized that the development of intermodal transportation system would help a great deal especially rail link to the ports which will cover almost 3,500km of existing narrow gauge lines from the South West commercial capital, Lagos to Kano in the North East rail lines.
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