Export: NPA, Ministry of Agriculture’s face-off delays Ikorodu Terminal utilisation
Mr. Simon Irtwange, President of the Yam Farmers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria has urged the Ministry of Agriculture and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to resolve their differences over the Ikorodu terminal in order to boost the country’s non-oil exports.
Irtwange, said that the use of Ikorodu terminal as a base for the exportation of yam and other agricultural produce had been delayed due to the differences between the NPA and the Min. of Agriculture.
“The terminal ought to have started operation but the communication gap between both government agencies is stalling the take-off plan. The Ministry of Agriculture had fixed a date for the inauguration of the terminal for agricultural produce export, but it was cancelled because the NPA said they were not carried along in the plan.
“The plan is that all vehicles and trucks carrying yams for export will head towards the Ikorodu terminal, instead of the Apapa Ports. This will assist the vehicles to avoid the Apapa gridlocks, save the time the produce gets to the ships and reduce the number of spoilt ones.
“With reduced time and spoilage, farmers will make more profits and will be encouraged to bring in more produce for export,’’ Irtwange explained.