Nigeria can generate $250bn from agric exports — Experts

Experts have said Nigeria can rake in $250 billion per annum on agro-export commodities alone with improved standard of agricultural exports.

This emerged Thursday on the second day of the CHINET Aviation and Cargo conference held in Lagos.

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Chief Executive Officer of ABX World, Capt. John Okakpu stated that Nigeria with proper adherence to export market requirements has the “innate capacity” to turn agricultural exports into a revenue earner.

He charged the federal government to sponsor the internationally recognised Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Certifications/Traceability for major farmers in the country.

According to him, advanced countries will only accept agro products that are traceable GAP.

He said, “One of the primary failures of the export process in Nigeria is our inability to match our exports to markets, especially in the areas of documentation and certifications requirements.

“Exporters in Nigeria continue to rely on our own bogus documentation and certifications standards, which are mostly not recognized anywhere in the world.

“The first step in engaging in export is to identify, properly analyse and conform to the requirements of the proposed importing countries. Thus, the exporter has to provide the commodities needed their satisfaction and documentations.

“Conversely, Nigeria with a proper adherence to export market requirements has the innate capacity to rake in $250 billion per annum on only agro-export commodities.”

Group Managing Director of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO aviance) plc, Mrs. Olatokunbo Fagbemi also stressed the need for standardisation of the various elements of the air cargo business to ensure the actualisation of the desired air-cargo industry in Nigeria.

“I pray that government and stakeholders would work together to create a better operating environment and an effective framework to support cargo export so that the planes would stop flying from Nigeria empty,” she said.

CEO, Mainstream Cargo Limited, Mr. Seyi Adewale, noted that Air Cargo has its operating model “and this ought not to be compromised due to local limitations.”