Nigeria needs more deep seaports for AfCFTA success – Le Look Bags CEO

The Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has been described as the prosperity super highway for the continent. And For Nigeria to optimize this, new deep seaports in the country will have to be ready and there must be transparency in the ease of doing business.

The Chief Executive Officer, Le Look Bags, Chief Mrs Chinwe Ezenwa stated this in a paper she presented at the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) Annual Lecture in Lagos last week

Here is her full speech:
I call AfCFTA the prosperity super highway for the continent. It is a unique opportunity for Africa and as we optimize AfCFTA, in Le Look bags we have something good coming out of Nigeria.

We are already in Kenya doing our bag business and we are hoping to get a lot of people on board.

Thanks to the AfCFTA, I have set up an Academy to train more people in the beautiful business of making bags. The goal is to raise entrepreneurs who can play a significant role in AfCFTA trade in this bag business.

Nonetheless, some key issues have to be addressed to enable the continent effectively optimize this trade treaty. Logistics is a big concern which must be addressed to enable AfCFTA deliver on the immense potentials which we already know.

In Nigeria, there are core maritime/ logistics issues that should be addressed to make AfCFTA a success.

Lekki deep seaport has commenced operations and a few others are being developed in Bakassi, Badagry, among others. These deep seaport projects should aim to be transshipment hubs considering the new lease of security in the Gulf of Guinea.

Within the West and Central African sub-region, major seaport competitors will be Ports of Tema, Lome Port in the region. New deep seaports in Nigeria will have to be ready to compete in terms of infrastructure, efficiency in operations, service-driven costs, modern technology, transparency and ease of doing business.

Freight forwarding in Nigeria also has to be rejigged and tailored towards modern innovations and transparent operations.

Advanced port infrastructure supports intermodal transportation. This means cargo can seamlessly transition between ships, trucks, trains, and airplanes, enhancing supply chain efficiency.

The provision of railways and possibility of barge operations will be crucial to the AfCFTA trade via ports. Port access roads and railway connection have been an impediment to port operations in Nigeria for too long.

Additionally, there is need to deploy technology and innovation using digital marketing tools to promote and expedite trade within the continent.

There is need for both Domestic and Regional warehousing facilities for distribution of goods.

Exporters to cash in on numerous opportunities created by the Nigerian Customs Service and NEPC on trade facilitation.

The Government must also realize that AfCFTA, if properly implemented, in Nigeria will assist to grow the much needed forex so we need to support all the players in that corridor.

MARAN is not left out in this process as the association is the loudest voice in promoting trade across the continent. I specifically thank all the ladies and gentlemen of MARAN for supporting Lelook and its endeavor in quest to contribute to growing our economy.