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By Steve Agbota
As part of efforts to ensure continuous growth in non-oil exports, the federal government has called on stakeholders at the port, to join its collaborative effort to create a regulatory framework that empowers exporters, streamlines processes, and unlocks the full potential of Nigeria’s commodity export sector.
The government assured the stakeholders that it will come up with policies to support export trade.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Nura Rimi, while speaking at a one day stakeholders workshop, organised by the ministry in conjunction with the Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC) on Wednesday, urged all stakeholders to play a role in developing non-oil exports.
At the event with theme: “Port Economic Regulation and Its Impact on Shipment of Export Commodities through Nigerian Ports”, Rimi emphasised the pivotal role of Nigerian ports in enhancing the nation’s export efficiency and competitiveness.
Rimi, who was represented by the Director, Commodities and Export department of the ministry, Kaura Irimiya, highlighted the vast wealth of exportable commodities in Nigeria, especially agricultural produce.
“Our ability to efficiently export these commodities is crucial for our economic growth and international competitiveness. The smooth flow of exports heavily relies on ports functioning at their optimal capacity,” he said.
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Rimi called for a collaborative effort to create a regulatory framework that empowers exporters, streamlines processes, and unlocks the full potential of Nigeria’s commodity export sector.
According to him, the Export Commodities Coordinating Committee (ECCC) was created in response to the challenges brought by the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), which led to the privatization of state-owned industries and the abolition of commodity marketing boards.
In his welcome address, the Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Pius Akutah, highlighted the NSC’s efforts in cost moderation, setting operational standards, and mediating disputes to ensure harmony in the port sector.
He pointed out the high transport costs associated with Nigeria’s agricultural export commodities, attributing these to factors such as inefficient port operations, high cargo handling charges, inadequate infrastructure, and congestion at the ports.
“The high cost of cargo movement can be attributed to various factors including inefficient port operations, high cargo handling charges, inadequate transportation and storage infrastructure, long delays and congestion at the ports, high fuel costs, and inadequate competition in the transport sector,” Akutah explained.
He noted that these factors contribute significantly to the non-competitiveness of Nigerian exports in the global market.
