NEPC, NCS engage stakeholders on cross-border trade in A’Ibom 

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) have engaged stakeholders on the need to formalise informal cross-border trade in Akwa Ibom State.

They urged stakeholders on the need to formalise trade by maintaining quality, proper documentation and packaging of their products for export.

They stated these during the Town Hall meeting held in Oron Local council of the state with the theme, “Mainstreaming Informal Trade and Data Collection for Enhanced Economic Development,” in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, during the first phase of the Strategic Stakeholders’ Engagement on Mainstreaming of Cross-border Trade.

The events were aimed at enhancing economic development through organised trade practices and data collection.

Speaking during the Town Hall meeting, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NEPC, Mrs Nonye Ayeni, explained that the aim of the stakeholders’ meeting was to see how strong and reliable data collection can help move a lot of traders who are trading at an informal level.

Ayeni said: “Export requires procedures and documentation; hence, it has to be planned. There is a need for follow-up on all other stages. You have to do the segregation and package it well. You have to keep all the indicators of what is needed on the packaging and labelling, so it will be easier for you.

“When you do this in a formal way, even when the government grants come, apart from making policies, we will not go for those who are not registered with NEPC. That is why, in a nutshell, we are here today.”

She urged participants to discuss issues bordering on the challenges faced by those engaged in informal trade and how the trade could be mainstreamed in terms of data collection and others.

The CEO, who was represented by the Director of the Trade Information Department, Dr. Joe Itah, lamented that informal traders pay so much to different agencies because they want to hide and have no documents. She emphasised the crucial role of border towns in Nigeria as trade hubs.