The Nigerian Shippers’ Council has said that Nigerian shippers were the reason the country was not thriving in the export of non- oil products.
Speaking at a press briefing organized by the Shippers Association Lagos State last week, Deputy Director Consumer Affairs Department of the Council; Mrs Ada Okam said that Nigerians were not taking advantage of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) unlike other African countries.
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council has said that Nigerian shippers were the reason the country was not thriving in the export of non- oil products.
Speaking at a press briefing organized by the Shippers Association Lagos State last week, Deputy Director Consumer Affairs Department of the Council; Mrs Ada Okam said that Nigerians were not taking advantage of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) unlike other African countries.
Stakeholders have over the years lamented that Nigeria's economy has been so much dependent on the export of crude oil and proceeds; while the government relies solely on what it is getting from crude oil export and very little is being done to promote raw materials in the non-oil sector.
But speaking last week, Mrs Okam said that Nigerian exporters find it difficult comply with the provisions of the AGOA in terms of packaging of their products, labeling and getting the right certification.
"We must be sincere to ourselves that the AGOA is not something that you just strike at, it has procedures in terms of packaging and certification, and except our shippers get to that level, they cannot benefit fully"
"The AGOA has its own rules and regulations and our indigenous exporters find it difficult to rise to that level of labeling, packaging, certification and so on", she observed.
The Shippers Council Deputy Director said that there is need for enlightenment and sensitization of Nigerian exporters, lamenting that the problems with non-oil export in Nigeria is the 'Nigerian Factor' where exporters want to do it their own way and not the owners' way.
"This has stalled what we are doing." she lamented.
The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) is facilitating the AGOA and export grant is given to any shipper that is able to take advantage of the Act.
For those shippers who want to take advantage of it, they should liaise with NEPC in collaboration with the Nigerian Export Bank (NEXIM)
"Nigerians are taking advantage of it but at a low rate, other African countries have gone far with it, with the new government in place and with honesty, Shippers can take advantage of it, but right now the tempo is low"
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