As export of yams and other non oil products gathers momentum, the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman, has assured that NPA has and put in place necessary facilities to play to facilitate Federal Government’s efforts to promote the export of solid minerals and Agricultural produce through the nation’s seaports.

The MD who said this during the official flag off of the Nigeria Yam Export Programme (NYEP) to the United Kingdom at the Lily Pond Container Terminal Apapa, also expressed pleasure to be part of the export of non – oil cargo through the Port.

While stressing that Nigeria is richly blessed in the Agricultural sector, she added that the 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 informed the gathering that NPA is already looking at prioritizing some terminals strictly for export among which she said is Ikorodu, adding that the only challenge with Ikorodu Terminal is the problem of low head room of the three bridge across the lagoon.Noetheless, she assured that several alternatives are being considered.

Hadiza 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.

She noted that while it was important for Nigerians to return to the farm to produce enough yams for both local consumption and export, an elated Usman pledged that everything would be done to guarantee smooth exportation from the Ports.