The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has promised that by next year, goods produced in the country will stop being rejected at the international market.
Its Executive Director, Olusegun Awolowo who spoke during the visit of the Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col Hameed Ali (rtd) to the agency’s Abuja office, assured that by next year, there will be zero rejection of exported goods from the country.
He said: “A committee of agencies involving customs, NEPC, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Agency for Foods, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and others were sent on fact finding mission, on reasons Nigerian exported products have always been rejected. It was discovered that most of the products did not go through proper documentation, which is the major reason for the rejections.
“Another point of note is that the export earnings figure is seriously taking a down turn. In 2011, the export earning was $2.7billion. In 2012, it was $2.5billion (7,4 per cent); 2013, it was $2.97billion (13.7per cent); 2014 figure was $2.71billion (8.62 per cent). In Q1 2014, it was $814million; Q1 2015, it was $652million, representing (19.86per cent). In Q2 2014, it was $664million; Q2 2015, it was $391million (39.25per cent).
“Job creation through non-export products, 2005 was 105,220; 2010-211,29; 2012-183,823; 2013-159, 926 while beneficiary companies in 2011 was 194; 2013-147 (24.2per cent).