The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has called for the development of indigenous shipping market, improved logistics and stronger capacity to enable the country increase export flow, reduce its dependence on imports, create jobs and grow the economy.
Acting Customs Area Controller, Lilypond Export Command, Deputy Comptroller Olusola Salako, who made the call on Wednesday when the executives of the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) paid hm a courtesy visit, said already, trade data from the command shows a continuous increase in export traffic, especially manufactured goods.

Salako said exports remained critical to improving balance of trade, creating jobs, providing more business opportunities, expanding economic opportunities, strengthening the national currency and improving Nigeria’s overall economic prosperity.
He said Nigeria could not achieve sustainable economic growth by focusing largely on imports into the country without paying equal attention to what was being exported.

The Customs controller said Nigeria needed to increase the value and volume of products exported rather than remain heavily dependent on foreign goods.
The Customs boss said the Lilypond Export Command plays an important role in addressing this trade imbalance by facilitating the movement of Nigerian products to international markets.

Salako, however, identified logistics as one of the challenges affecting the smooth movement of exports, particularly where exporters have to compete for available space with imported cargo.
According to him, the situation creates delays for exporters as they may have to wait for imported consignments to be discharged before space becomes available for their products.

Salako said Nigeria would benefit from a system that allows locally produced goods to move more efficiently from production centres to international markets, particularly the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.
He urged major businesses and exporters with the requisite licences and capacity to explore greater collaboration and direct shipping arrangements to improve the movement of Nigerian products.

Salako said exporters could also work together to organise shipments and develop their own logistics arrangements, adding that such an approach would help increase export volumes.
The Customs boss added that the country’s export performance should therefore be viewed as a collective responsibility involving Customs, exporters, businesses, logistics operators and other stakeholders.

Salako also stressed the importance of communicating developments in the export sector to the wider public, saying increased awareness of export opportunities and progress could encourage more businesses to participate in international trade.
He said the Customs Service remained committed to supporting initiatives that would consolidate gains in the export sector, promote innovation and strengthen collaboration among stakeholders.

Salako, however, called for stronger collaboration between the service, maritime stakeholders and journalists to promote Nigeria’s export growth, strengthen the economy and improve the country’s balance of trade.
The Customs boss highlighted the critical role of maritime journalism in publicising developments in the export sector.

He noted that the maritime sector, which covers activities involving cargo transported by sea, could not achieve its full potential without journalists and other stakeholders effectively communicating developments and reforms taking place in the sector.
Salako stated that journalism and the maritime industry were interconnected, stressing that the efforts of government agencies and private-sector operators would have limited impact if there were no courageous media professionals to document and communicate their activities to the public.

On his part, the President of MARCON, said the sustained growth in the export sector could create more jobs, strengthen the economy and contribute to the stability of the naira within the next five years.
He commended the leadership of the Customs command for driving export activities, describing the development as significant to the growth of the Nigerian economy.

Aniemu expressed the organisation’s readiness to support initiatives aimed at improving the country’s export performance.
The MARCON president assured the Customs command of the support of maritime journalists in promoting policies and initiatives that could improve efficiency and facilitate sustainable growth in the export sector.