NAFFAC Seeks FG Intervention To Non-Oil Export

The Nigerian Association of Air Freight Forwarders and Consolidators ((NAFFAC) has appealed to the Federal Government to encourage non- oil export trade in furtherance to boost revenue drive .

NAFFAC lamented that lack of support from the government in promoting exportation of non-oil commodities have contributed negatively to the setback of foreign exchange earnings for the country.

President General of the air freight forwarders group, Prince Adeyinka Bakare in a chat recently, stressed the need for government to prioritize exportation of Nigeria produces , adding that infrastructure decay in the maritime industry sends negative signal to shippers and transporters of such commodities.

Adeyinka suggested that a specific capacity base should be designated for export considering the huge volume of import recorded in Nigerian seaports .

He decried terminal operators lackluster attitude for export against import , pointing out that the body language of the concessionaires further demoralised those in the export chain.

While harping on the need to boost barge operations in a bid to encourage export, Bakare who doubles as the Chairman, Nigeria Association of Agriculture Product Dealers (NAAPD) , lamented that exportation of Nigerian produces have not gotten the needed attention from terminal operators.

“I think there are some things that the government should take more seriously at the moment to encourage international trade.

“The attention given to non oil export is not enough and government really need to pay more attention on export and encourage those in the sector and others who are willing to come in and do business.

“We have a lot to benefit from export but our problem is that the government has not deemed it wise to encourage investors.”

According to him, total logistics chain has not been effective to encourage export thus government would look inward towards ensuring smooth movement of cargoes to the seaports.

Bakare is also the Managing Director, De Potter Nigeria Limited and a member, Governing Council of the Council for the Regulations of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).

By Roland Ekama