NEPC decries poor packaging of products for export

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has advised Nigerian exporters against to desist from poor packaging of their products, stressing that the development may undermine their ability to penetrate international markets.
NEPC zonal controller, George Enyiekpon, gave the advice at a seminar in Lagos, saying only exporters who care to produce quality, standardised and well-packaged goods stand a chance of breaking even in international trade.
“It is on record that made-in Nigeria products, over the years have
elicited great demand from international markets due to compliance by
serious Nigerian exporters to work according to acceptable quality
specifications,” he noted.
“Today, a good number of indigenous semi-processed and manufactured goods make waves amongst others and enjoy high accreditation all over the world due to increase in quality compliance and nice packaging,” Enyiekpon said.
NEPC the zonal head of trade information, Mrs. Francisca Odega, said exporters tend to lose much of their profits or even risk aban when they chose to be haphazard in their packaging.
“As exporters, we must learn how to package our products. The recent
ban of beans, sesame seeds, melon seeds, dried fish and meat, peanut
chips and palm oil from Nigeria by some European countries on the allegation that these food items contain dichlorvos pesticide and aflatoxins can be attributed to poor packaging,” she said.
The zonal head of administration and human resources, Mr. Yakubu
Olagunju, also reiterated the importance of packaging, stressing that: “sometimes some people may have good products but poor packaging which may lead to loss of profit and allowing those with inferior quality but good packaging, outshine them.”