NEPC, operators seek national carrier to boost non-oil export

While building the capacity of non-oil exporters is key for market penetration, the country needs a national carrier to further improve its chances of entering new markets and deepening non-oil export growth, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and other operators have said.

Indeed, the Chief Executive Officer, Free on Board (FOB) Global Logistics Limited, Oluwajimi Adebakin, said the Federal Government’s quest to drive non-oil export would be hampered without a national carrier, noting that exportation of non-oil products is affected by huge freight cost.

He stated this at a news conference to showcase the airfreight of Nigerian brands bound for export in Lagos.

He decried that the Federal Government’s zero oil policy has not trickled down to all the agencies, urging that all the bottlenecks experienced at the airports and seaports are removed.

“This is a national assignment for us because we are moving out of Nigeria branded products that meet global standards. It is a journey we have committed to being moving 100 tonnes of Nigeria produced goods on a daily basis, and before the end of October, we would witness a full chapter of a 747 aircraft filled with Nigerian produce going to Europe and other continents.

“There should be no need for money to exchange hands especially when we want to promote non-oil export. There should be no need for any government agency to frustrate the process. Our President has given his approval, and we should not be experiencing bureaucratic issues down the chain. We have been given the mandate to promote non-oil export.”

He called for support for made-in-Nigeria products, stressing that FOB is working closely with NEPC to facilitate seamless export of made-in-Nigeria goods

Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Olusegun Awolowo, represented by the Regional Coordinator, NEPC South West Region, Samuel Oyeyipo, said the Council is building the capacity of Nigerian exporters to meet global standards.

“The essence of our presence is to ensure that locally-made products find their way to the international market. We are not just assisting people to grow in non-oil export, but also assuring that the processes and documentation of export are well taken care of to facilitate international trade,” he said.

He added: “We are building capacities of our exporters here so that they can meet standards because if they do not meet standards of the importer, there is little or nothing we can do when the goods arrive at the point of entry. We are presently building capacities and competencies for exporters to meet the required and also the need to acquire the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), which is a worldwide non-mandatory certification.”