The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Export Terminal, planned to be built in Lagos, is being awaited by exporters to spur transnational trade.
The exporters expressed their readiness to patronise the facility in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos.
The Managing Director of NPA, Ms Hadiza Usman, had said during her facility tour of Lagos ports that the authority would construct an export terminal to facilitate trade.
The potential exporters told NAN that “ if the terminal meant to store perishable produce becomes operational, it will be a boost to the economy’’.
A wood exporter, Mr James Da-Silva, said that some of exporters were recently dislodged from timber export by the Federal Government’s sanction and advised to explore other produce.
“We are longing for the terminal to assist us change to other items like yam, tomatoes and fruits.
“It will be a bad venture for us to bring produce for export and those items go bad at the ports, while waiting to sail, ’’ Da-Silva told NAN.
Another exporter, Mr Hakeem Balogun, said an export terminal was long overdue, adding that both past and present administration had been calling for economic diversification.
“I have been exporting produce since 2007 to Europe on a small scale via air flight.
“With the coming on board of such a terminal, I will increase my export and make more money as my risk will be reduced,’’ Balogun said.
He urged the NPA management not to rest on its oars as the venture was a worthwhile one.
NAN reports that the facility was among projects enlisted to reform trade activities at the ports (NAN)