NEPC sensitises newly registered exporters, targets N800bn revenue in 2016

The Nigerian government has been urged to further diversify its revenue streams and increase its non-oil export contribution to the nation’s total revenue.

Nnamdi Wabara, business manager, First Bank plc, Aba, who made the appeal at a workshop tagged “Export Clinic” for newly registered exporters in Aba, by the Aba zonal office of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), however, applauded efforts so far taken by the Federal Government to boost the non-oil export sector.

The NEPC has expressed optimism that with an average annual growth of 20 percent in the last five years, that non-oil export, would hit N465 billion ($3bn) at the end of 2015, and well over N800 billion ($5bn) by 2016, Wabara said.

According to him, successive administrations have embarked on some pragmatic measures such as the removal of export duty, establishment of the Export Expansion Grant (EEG), the Negotiable Duty Credit Certificate and the creation of Export Free Zones to further drive export business in Nigeria.

Christian Elekwa, zonal controller, NEPC, Aba zonal office, said the non-oil export sector was vital to the generation of foreign exchange, income and employment.

Elekwa in his paper titled “Understanding Export Trade,” said the sector had a lot of untapped potentials, which if adequately harnessed would contribute towards the aspiration of the Federal Government in making Nigeria one the 20 strongest economies in the world by the year 2020.

He observed that majority of the newly registered exporters were not aware of the Council’s programmes and activities, a development he said impacted negatively on the knowledge of the teeming business community.

According to him, there is need to educate the newly registered exporters on the Council’s programmes and activities, which are meant to assist them in their export businesses.

The NEPC was established to promote the development and diversification of Nigerian’s export trade, assist in promoting the development of export related industries, spearhead the creation of appropriate export incentives and to actively articulate and promote the implementation of export policies and programmes of the Nigerian government.