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By Henry Uche
In line with calls for Nigeria to diversify its economy the Managing Director/CEO of Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Adesoji Adesugba, has reiterated that poor packaging and positioning has been a challenge inhibiting Nigerians from competing favourably in the international export market. He made this known at a Breakfast session on ‘Nigerian Non-Oil Exports – Situation Report & Way Forward’ put together by Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC).
The NEPZA boss who was represented by the Director of Investment services, Mr. Augustine Onyekwere, noted that since 1992, revenue from non -oil export contributed less than 10per cent of total export earnings, unfortunately. However, the NEPZA Free Trade Zones/Special Economic Zones (SEZ) provides the panacea to reinvigorate and resuscitate the sectors in the face of dwindling and unstable oil revenue.
“The Special Economic Zones (SEZ) was designed to create backward linkages, export promotion, skills acquisition/ technology transfer, attract Foreign Direct investment (FDI), diversification of revenue base and to create employment among others.”
According to him, export remains the vehicle for economic growth, development, employment, foreign exchange earnings among other benefits,
“Since 1992, non -oil contribution to total export earning has been less than 10 per cent and Nigeria’s performance in export diversification has been very poor. We need to design a national programme based on non- oil export development.”
NEPZA boss added that the Authority was in talk with the Ministry of transportation & Works in every state to ensure good roads and other basic infrastructure are provided, he urged states governors to strive and make the states zones to thrive.
Adesugba noted that opportunities abounds in the manufacturing sector, logistics, real estate, agric -gro- Allied value chain, solid and metal, construction, light, manufacturing and service, however; low level of human capital, supply side constraints occasioned by low level of technology, weak Infrastructure, inconsistent government policies need to be fixed.
In a remark, the National President, NACC, Dame Adebola Williams, maintained that with the steady global campaign for green /renewable energy; agriculture, mining and other primary commodities must, as a matter of urgency be reviewed with a determination to add real value to them as much as possible for exports.
NACC President bemoaned Nigeria’s long over-dependence on crude oil exports as oil does no longer sustain the economy. “We have dwell so long in oil and gas, the advent of electric cars is here, thus, there is no better time to look very critically, once again, at our non-oil exports with a goal of higher foreign exchange earnings,” she affirmed.
Meanwhile, experts across board highlighted that poor management, maladministration, policy summersaults, infrastructure decay and many other human factors as part of the problems in exploring export.
According to them, the ease of doing business in Nigeria in recent time is becoming agonizing, hence the need to address every impediments stunting export.
They called on every Ministry, departments and agencies of government as well as organized private sector directly involved in facilitating export to up their games to rescue Nigeria from the penury of mono – cultural economy.
“Prudent management, administration and discipline are essential to fully harness the potentialities embedded in non- oil commodities. We need responsible behavior make get there,” they said.
