By Giwa SHILE
The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and its Business Women Group (NAWORG) on Thursday called for a vigorous pursuit in the development of non-oil exports to ensure the success of government’s diversification agenda and economic development.
The National President, NACCIMA, Mrs Alaba Lawson, made the call at the NACCIMA/NAWORG Export Conference 2018 in Lagos, tagged: “Nigerian Export Trade: Focusing on the Chain and Regulations”.
“If we work jointly to develop a robust non-oil export trade, we would have taken a significant step in our quest for true diversification and move away from dependence on the boom and burst of the prices of crude oil.
“Going by the reports provided by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s non-oil export for the first quarter of 2018 have exceeded the total value of non-oil exports for the year 2016.
“This is an indication that our non-oil export policy can work if we vigorously pursue it,” Lawson said.
She said the conference served to examine the current state of export trade vis-a-vis the government’s diversification agenda, with a focus on the challenges faced in existing port value chains and the opportunities therein.
The NAWORG president restated the association’s devotion to ensuring the creation of a conducive atmosphere for the pursuit of commerce, industry and all other forms of economic activities of interest to the private sector.
Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr Segun Awolowo, said that to achieve the nation’s goal of rapid export diversification, there is need to emphasise the importance of effective export chain management and compliance to regulations.
“No economy can survive without exports and Nigeria is at an economic inflation point where even though crude oil has served us well for over 60 years, we must now find a new anchor for our future growth and to build truly sustainable economies.
“Nigeria is blessed with exportable agricultural products, solid minerals and manufacturing products among others.
“Meanwhile, at the COP21 Paris Climate Agreements in 2015, over 195 countries committed to reducing their consumption of fossil fuels.
“To rephrase this, it means over 195 countries will be buying less oil in years to come and that Nigeria’s customers are therefore planning to buy less oil very soon.
“This is a major shift in what the global economy will look like in coming years and a threat to oil rich nations,;; Awolowo said.
Awolowo disclosed that considerations for export regulations were being managed on two levels — starting with export regulations in Nigeria and ending with import regulations in target markets of our products.
“Regarding Nigeria’s export regulations we are in the process of a comprehensive review of the steps, costs, and efficacy of implementation,” he said.
The NEPC CEO revealed that they had catalogued at least 10 products from which Nigeria could earn more than what it earns from crude oil today.
In addition, the NEPC is committed to playing a lead role in accelerating and providing a conducive environment for Nigeria’s effective participation at the international market space with a view to reaping for the economy significant foreign exchange from the global pie.
He said the NEPC and the government would continue to unpack and improve the regulatory framework as we were committed to making Nigeria one of the easiest places in the world to export goods.
A representative of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr Dera Nnadi, urged exporters to adhere to basic custom rules and regulations, and ensure proper filling of documents to avoid challenges usually encountered during the export process.
The Coordinator, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Mr Tosan Akosile, Zonal , said non-oil export would increase by ensuring locally manufactured products were compliant to relevant standard, specifications, easy accessibility of accredited laboratories to ISO 17025 and the continuous development of the meteorological institute
