Freight forwarders said in Lagos on Wednesday that they resorted to exportation of timber because it was more lucrative.
Some exporters told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that there was fortune in the trade.
NAN reports that sequel to the Federal Government’s ban on some imported items which had created a lull in the industry, stakeholders now engage in timber exports.
A freight forwarder, Mr James Ejike, said that there was already a market for timber products in all the Western countries.
According to him, if other freight forwarders follow the export line in other cash crops, a lot of idle youths will be gainfully employed.
Mr Akunne Eze, another freight forwarder, who goes to the hinterland to buy logs and sends to processing plant in Ogere, Ogun, said “the business is rewarding’’.
“Apart from the monetary gains, I now feel proud to be part of the value addition in exportation of goods.
“With the high cost of the U.S. dollar to the Naira, it is very rewarding as the proceeds are paid in dollars,’’ Eze said.
A transporter, Mr Benedict Ogor, said the timber trade had turned around the fortune of his family.
Ogor said that unlike the imports driven-regime, he now hired out 10 to 12 trucks daily to exporters.
He urged the Federal Government to put in place stiff regulations on timber trade to compel exporters to adhere to global standards to avoid being black-listed by end users. (NAN)
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