The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has called for coordinated policy actions and infrastructure development to address logistics challenges hindering Non-Oil Exports in Nigeria, with special focus on Kano State.
The Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the council, Dr Pius Akitah, made the call on Thursday at a sensitisation seminar on Non-Oil exports in Kano.
The event has the theme: “Addressing Challenges of Non-Oil Export Logistics in Nigeria – Kano State in Focus”.
Akitah, represented by the Deputy Director, Stakeholders at NSC, Mrs Hanna Adaba, said Nigeria’s over dependence on crude oil had continued to limit sustainable economic growth.
He stressed that sectors such as agriculture, solid minerals, leather, textiles and manufacturing hold huge potential for foreign exchange earnings and job creation.
He identified high transportation costs, poor road networks, port delays, multiple checkpoints, lack of storage and processing facilities, and inconsistent documentation as major challenges affecting export competitiveness.
The NSC boss advocated the digitisation of export documentation, improvement of intermodal transport, establishment of export terminals closer to production centres and better access to finance and insurance for small producers.
Also speaking, an International Trade and Export Consultant, Mr Oma Mustapha-Akioye, identified limited capacity and poor technical knowledge as key setbacks facing non-oil exporters in Kano.
He said many exporters lacked understanding of basic export operations, “Inco-terms” and financing principles, adding that wrong commodity choices, poor business orientation and over-reliance on government had worsened the situation.
In her presentation titled: “Harnessing Opportunities of Non-Oil Export for Economic Growth in Nigeria”, the North-West Zonal Coordinator of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Hajiya Amina Abdulmalik, said the future of Nigeria’s economy lies in the deliberate development of non-oil exports.
She described economic diversification as a strategic investment in the people, noting that transforming local resources into export products would guarantee a more stable and prosperous nation.
Similarly, the Deputy Controller of Customs, Kano/Jigawa Command, Abdullahi Hussaini-Duku, said transportation and documentation bottlenecks had long hindered export competitiveness but noted that automation, cargo tracking, one-stop shop platforms and other trade facilitation tools were gradually improving the system.
Other discussants at the event included Alhaji Muftahu Ya’u of the Airfreight Stakeholders Forum, Kano, and Danjuma Buba from NSC.
NAN reports that the event provided a platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas on strengthening the state’s role as a production and logistics hub for non-oil exports.
NAN
