Non-oil exports vital to FG’s transformation agenda–Aganga
The minister, who informed that UK has remained Nigeria’s top five additional non-oil export destinations for food produce, advised exporters to update themselves and adhere to new guidelines for exporting food produce to Europe. Aganga, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Alhaji Dauda Shuaib Kigbu, expressed concern over the losses incurred by Nigerian exporters, due to non-compliance with the conditions and guidelines governing such exportation.
The minister said government would do everything possible to address the challenges of exporting traditional food produce to the EU and UK. In his remarks, the Executive Director, NEPC, Dr David I. Adulugba, said that Nigerian exporters lose millions of dollars annually to rejection and destruction of traditional food exports at the UK Border Agency, lamenting that most exporters do not engage in formal trading. “We have been telling the exporters to formalise their trade and register with NEPC.
They have to fill the necessary forms and follow procedures to avoid the problems,” he said. The executive director explained that that was why the agency brought in the team of experts from the UK Border Agency to give the necessary advice to help them in their transactions. “What we are asking the British is very simple: Just allow our goods into your country for sale. We do not want to send our goods there and be destroyed at the border and at our expense.
“We have received numerous complaints. The question is ‘why do Ghanaians have their goods sail through the UK border and Nigerians’ don’t? What are we doing wrong, what are we not doing right? “We want to put this thing straight away. That is why we brought the experts here to discuss with you,” he said.
The Punch
