Foreign Trade V: Nigeria Ports (NPA) & Nigeria Airport Authority (NAA) – SS1 Commerce Lesson Note (Second Term)

The Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) provides facilities and controls seaports in Nigeria, such as Apapa in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Warri, Calabar and Sapele. The Nigeria Airport Authority (NAA) is a statutory body that manages, maintains and controls airports, such as Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja. Both bodies support foreign trade by handling the movement of goods and passengers.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Explain what the Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) is.
2. State the functions of the NPA.
3. List the functions of seaports.
4. Explain what the Nigeria Airport Authority (NAA) is.
5. State the functions of the NAA and of airports.

What is the Nigeria Port Authority (NPA)?

The Nigeria Port Authority is an organ of the federal government charged with the responsibility of providing facilities and controlling seaports in the country. It provides facilities at the ports to ensure effective and efficient sea transportation.

The facilities include boats, harbours, wharves, trailers and forklifts.

Nigeria has seaports in Apapa (Lagos), Port Harcourt, Warri, Calabar, Sapele and other places.

What are the functions of the Nigeria Port Authority (NPA)?

1. Provision of facilities: the authority provides facilities such as forklifts and navigational aids.
2. Maintenance and improvement of ports: the authority is responsible for the improvement of ports, including dredging the channels of the port for easy passage of ships.
3. Provision and maintenance of security: it provides security to monitor the movement of ships, cargo and people within and around the nation’s ports.
4. Office accommodation: it provides offices for officials of immigration, customs and shipping companies that work in the ports.
5. Revenue collection: the authority collects harbour and dock dues.
6. Provision of warehouses: it provides warehouses where cargoes are stored before they are loaded and after they are unloaded from vessels.
7. Maintenance facilities: it provides ship repair and refuelling.

What are the functions of seaports?

1. They serve as entry and departure points for goods and passengers.
2. They are a port of call for the refuelling of big ocean vessels.
3. They provide dockyards where repairs and maintenance work are carried out on ships.
4. They provide employment opportunities for both skilled and unskilled workers.
5. They serve as fishing harbours and sell fish cargoes to fishing trawlers.
6. They serve as bases for defence purposes to monitor activities within the country’s territorial waters in times of war.

What is the Nigeria Airport Authority (NAA)?

The Nigeria Airport Authority is a statutory body or public corporation charged with the responsibility of managing, maintaining, running, administering and controlling all airports.

Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, and Aminu Kano Airport, Kano, are examples of international airports in Nigeria. Calabar Airport is an example of a local airport.

What are the functions of the NAA?

1. Control of airways: it controls domestic and international airlines.
2. Maintenance of all facilities: it provides repair and maintenance facilities for damaged aircraft.
3. Provision of warehouses: the authority provides warehouses for the storage of goods and luggage before loading and after offloading.
4. Housing of security agents: it provides office accommodation for customs, immigration, police and other agents who work at the airport.
5. Revenue collection: the authority takes charge of collecting airport taxes from airline and shop operators in the airport.
6. Passenger security: the authority ensures passenger safety by providing security.
7. Administration: it covers the general administration, management and control of the airport.
8. Road network: the authority makes sure that airports in the country have a good road network for vehicles coming to them.

What are the functions of airports?

1. They serve as refuelling points for long-distance aircraft.
2. They offer landing facilities for domestic and international aircraft.
3. They promote commerce and trade within and among countries.
4. They offer employment opportunities to skilled and unskilled workers in the aviation industry.
5. They serve as entry points for goods and passengers.
6. They serve as bases for defence to check activities in the airspace of countries.

Evaluation

1. What is the Nigeria Port Authority?
2. List four facilities provided at the ports.
3. State four functions of the Nigeria Port Authority.
4. Mention four functions of seaports.
5. State four functions of the Nigeria Airport Authority.

Assignment

1. Explain any three functions of airports.
2. Name four seaports in Nigeria.
3. Give two examples of international airports in Nigeria.