The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) says Nigerian exporters need to deploy effective logistic supply chains to export their products to the global market.

The Chief Executive Officer of the NEPC, Olusegun Awolowo noted that the council identified poor logistics and documentation as some of the major challenges hindering Nigeria’s export market, noting that these challenges could make or mar export transactions.

Awolowo, who was represented by the Director, Trade Information, NEPC, Mrs. Evelyn Obidike, at its 2021 workshops on non-oil export logistics Kano & Lagos tagged “Non-oil export logistics”, said the essence of the workshop was in response to the needs of Nigerian exporters, explaining that the focus of the council in recent times, has been to solve issues and challenges hindering export trade.

Chief Executive Officer of the NEPC, Olusegun Awolowo

He said: “The workshop is our response to the needs of our exporters. Recently, our focus has been on solving the problems and challenges exporters have. This is the second leg of this programme. Export logistics has its importance because it can make or mar a transaction. You have a good product but have not documented it well, not only will you lose money, but the products will be seized by the customs or destroyed.

“This is why we have identified it at the council as a very critical component in the non-oil export chain. Your product may be wonderful, you might have a good contract, but if the products do not get to their final destination with the appropriate documents, you might not get a deal for your export and this is why we have come to change the narratives.

“We are not tired of addressing the issues associated with non-oil export until we see our containers moving. We need to get exporters ready and whatever it will cost us, we are on top of our game to ensure that Nigeria not only exports but takes its rightful place in the global market.”

Also speaking, the Regional Coordinator, South West, NEPC, Samuel Oyeyipo, represented by the Deputy Director, Francisca Odega, said for export to be formal, it has to be documented, stating the need for exporters to build strategic alliances to boost the nation’s export market. “We have been pursuing the zero-oil plan as part of efforts to boost non-oil exports to other countries and we are taking a lot of steps in that direction. The Executive Director, NEPC is very passionate about helping Nigerian exporters to have access to the foreign markets,” he said.

He noted that recently, the Council was able to assist about 70 exporters to gain certification for the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), a third-party certification that gives credibility to Nigerian products to prove that they are free from biological, chemical and physical hazard for the international market. “Once the products are there, there is a need to create market access for them and this is what we are doing today to boost non-oil exports to the rest of the world,” he said.

Handling the technical session, the Chief Executive Officer, XPT Logistics, Kola Awe, said no matter the quality of a product, without proper documentation, the product would be seized or destroyed.

He urged exporters to always prioritize efforts on deploying the use of effective and efficient logistics and supply chain.“It is not only about the goods being exported but about the documentation that goes with it. Exporters must also take cognizance of safety, the nature and the freight forwarders they use while carrying out their export activities,” he said.

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