NEPC, Shipper’s Council boost export trade in Oyo, train over 200 on documentation

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), in conjunction with the Nigerian Shippers Council (NPC), has trained more than 200 informal cross-border traders and exporters in Oyo State on export procedures and documentation to enhance export trade in the state.

The technical workshop, held at Iseyin City Hall, Iseyin Local Government Area, drew participants from various local governments in Oke Ogun zone of the state.

Speaking at the event, the state coordinator, NEPC, Mrs Bolanle Emmanuel, said the workshop was organized to provide the necessary information to the traders on proper documentation of their trades.

She noted that millions of naira is being lost every day because farmers and traders in the border areas of the state are engaging in high volume of trades without documentation.

While highlighting the benefits of proper export documentation, she said it minimises risk and losses, and also ensures that exporters meet the requirements of the importers by providing evidence of origin and delivery.

Emmanuel said: “We observed that a lot of trade is going on in Oyo State without documentation, you will just see trailer loads of different kinds of goods leaving the state and definitely they are being taken to other states for export. So, it means that those other states will say that the goods are from their states. If they add value to it, they would take origin of the production.

“What stops our people from exporting if they have the knowledge. “It means there is a knowledge gap. For them to know what they need to do these things formally, that is why we came from Ibadan. Of course, we have a lot of people in Ibadan doing exports, but it will amaze you that we also have many resources here that people come to tap, people come here to source for raw materials.

“So, if you have these raw materials, what stops you from exporting them? It is either you don’t know or you don’t have the capital. When these people were asked if they have ever taken their products outside the country, they said no, meaning that they don’t have the knowledge of export.”

Speaking on the expectations after the workshop, Emmanuel added, “Our expectation is that some of them that are already in business will come for documentation to do formal business, not relying on people coming to buy from them. You find out that those people buy at a cheaper rate from them than what they would get in the city.”

The zonal director of the NPC, Mrs Justina Kosoko, said the programme was in fulfilment of the council’s corporate responsibility to provide a platform for the enlightenment of stakeholders in maritime activities and international trade in general.

She disclosed that the NPC’s mandate as the protector of shipper’s interests was recently expanded to include functioning as the economic regulator of the nation’s ports, adding that the role made the council as unbiased umpire in the conduct of economic activities within the sector.

Kosoko however charged various trade groups, chambers of commerce, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and other stakeholders to embrace formal cross-border trade.

She explained that this would help increase the nation’s trade and export data, boost government revenue and also guard against confiscation of goods by the Nigeria Customs Service.

The NPC zonal director also tasked the council and the NEPC to strengthen collaboration and synergy with the chambers of commerce, MAN and relevant government agencies to establish strong platform for addressing and resolving issues of common interest to the national economy.

The technical workshop had paper presentations by the Nigeria Customs Service, the chairman, Iseyin local government area, Hon Rasak Fadiran, the All Farmers Association (AFAN), Iseyin and the president, Import and Export Trade, Ibadan Chambers of Commerce, Mr Yusuf Adeeko.

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