In line with the present government’s target of stimulating the real economy, manufacturers are exploring avenues to steer the non-oil export sector, diversify the economy and create sufficient jobs.
Tunde Oyelola, chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Export Group (MANEG), said non-oil exporters are ready to support the present administration’s agenda of driving the real economy.
“We will ensure that we play our part to move the economy forward,” Oyelola told Real Sector Watch, after a courtesy call to Olusegun Awolowo, chief executive officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) IN Abuja last Wednesday.
According to Oyelola, the NEPC has provided a platform for the success of the non-oil economy, stressing that with the right incentives to exporters, Nigeria will truly become industrialised.
“We believe that the issue like the Export Expansion Grant, suspended by the last administration, should be re-visited,” he said.
“This was part of the issue I discussed with the CEO of NEPC. Many exporters still owe their banks owing to the abrupt suspension of the EEG. The Customs has not been accepting Negotiable Duty Credit Certificate for two years now and that is affecting us,” Oyelola recounted.
“But he assured us that all our concerns will soon be addressed,” he said.
“We want to move the country forward and we hope the present government will help make this dream a reality through non-oil export. We know what is happening today in the oil sector and believe this is the right time to diversify,” he added.
ODINAKA ANUDU
