Kayode Farinto (National Publicity Secretary, ANLCA)
I think the government of the day is confused, because if you want anybody to go into exportation, you would need to sensitize them, there should be education, there should be an enabling environment, there is need for incentives for people that will go into export, but all these things are not there, the government just wants to rake in dollars from export, how is that possible? You remember the last story when somebody exported four containers of beans to Europe and they were returned, as I speak to you there is a ban on export of beans from Nigeria and the government is silent on that, this is why I said the government is confused. Until the government is able to get its acts together and see need to sensitize stakeholders, particularly exporters, the need to create enabling environment and provide incentives, government may not get it right. Even on importation, there is no clear cut policy and it is unfortunate.
Dr. Boniface Aniebonam (Founder, NAGAFF)
Cargo is carried out of this country on FOB value and it comes into Nigeria on CIF value, if we increase our export, we can only have what is called balance of trade, this has to do with the Central Bank of Nigeria, it has nothing to do with the NPA or Customs, the normal royalty will be there. We know what the problems are, the current exchange rate policy is not the best, even when we allow market forces to determine price, it is most unfortunate. Right now, the major threat to our trade is corruption; the level of corruption is much higher than what it was, as far as I am concerned, this administration is yet to fight corruption.
Olufemi Olabanji (Chairman, ANLCA Tin Can Port ‘2’ Chapter)
There is no encouragement from the government for people to go into export; the money we pay to export through the port is four times higher than we pay on import. If you want to export your cargo out of Nigeria, the shipping agent that wants to take your cargo will collect money, N50,000 for the container, N20,000 for weighing, after this you send your goods to the terminal and pay again, at the end of the day, the money you are paying for exporting out of Nigeria is more than the import, if this is the way it is done abroad, there is no way they can send goods to us. The government is killing export instead on encouraging it. Export is good, but the system of exporting is killing us in Nigeria, you will end up paying as much as N400, 000.
Dr. Frank Ukor (President, AREFFN)
Export is to enable the individuals involved to get foreign exchange, this would eventually help the economy now that we are saying that oil price is low and foreign exchange is hard to come by. So those who export can get dollars and use it to import. But you can never compare export to import because when people import, they pay duty to the government and government generates revenue from it, government does not generate anything from export, even if they get, it would be meagre.
It is expected that government would lose revenue, especially with customs, NPA and so on. Customs recently increased duty calculations from N197 to a dollar up to N282 to a dollar, this is criminal, it would further discourage people from going into imports, it would encourage importers going to neighbouring countries to import and possibly smuggle in their cargo.
Festus Ukwu (NCMDLCA)
The only way out for export to thrive in this country is for government to encourage the shippers. The problem with export is that there is no conducive environment and there is need for government to look inward in that direction to boost export. At least, put in place policies that will encourage them to carry out their businesses effectively without delay, which in turn will yield revenue for the government and also reduce the exchange rate. As way to encourage these businessmen further, there is the need for government to even assist the exporters financially, because the business is capital intensive.
Leke Sanni (NPA Branch President MWUN)
The best way out of the situation surrounding export is for the government to change and review its policies . Government also needs to encourage businessmen in export by creating an enabling environment for them because the economic downturn is alarming presently, even the dwindling revenue is a reflection of government somersaulting policies which at the end affects every sector of the economy. Therefore it is time to encourage exporters as a way of diversification.
Peter Paul (IFFA)
My advice to the government is that export is very important to the economic growth of this country, but the government needs to encourage the people in that regard. We are fully an import-dependent nation and the need to encourage export is long overdue because a country that has much to export doesn't suffer from issues surrounding foreign exchange, but when a country cannot export, then it is bound to suffer from foreign currency rate. My advice to the government is to come out to support businessmen in the export of local goods, by creating an enabling environment.
Chief Boniface Okoye (NCMDCLA)
Customs is actually creating problem in that regards in the sense that there are so many documents attached to exportation. NEXIM bank has made everything possible for export to thrive by bringing foreign currency to Nigeria with the international convention to make import and export payment at par. The Queen Elizabeth approach on international trade is still in existence in Nigeria because , there are some consignments that are designed for some set of people to export and it is not too good for Nigeria’s international trade and based on that problem of export continues to linger. Before, we had export produce inspectors at the ports and there is need for them to come back and work to effect exportation. Government should let go of the customs and bring back those set of inspectors ; customs has caused so many delays in export process, they also discourage the process and frustrate the export process and that is the best way out to encourage international trade.
Discussion about this post