Title: How agricultural exports can help reverse the trend of import dependence in Nigeria
Introduction :
Nigeria, a country blessed with fertile land and immense agricultural potential, faces high dependence on imports of agricultural products. However, according to Indranil Gupta, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), there is a strong demand for Nigerian agricultural products in the African market. He therefore urges more Nigerians to engage in exporting in order to bridge this gap and contribute to the country’s economic growth.
Diversify export markets starting with Africa:
Gupta highlights that the African market offers excellent export opportunities for Nigerian agricultural products. It therefore encourages producers to seize these opportunities and export to other African countries. According to him, Nigeria has the potential to become “the bread basket of this continent”. By expanding their export activities across Africa, producers will be able to create wealth and contribute to the growth of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
NAHCO Export Processing Centers:
NAHCO recently inaugurated its first export processing center in Lagos, which aims to facilitate the necessary procedures for the export of agricultural products. Gupta also announces that five other similar centers will be developed in the cities of Abuja, Port-Harcourt, Enugu and Kano, thus covering all geopolitical zones of Nigeria. These centers will help strengthen the country’s export policy and standardize the national export processing system.
Adding value to agricultural products to increase the value chain:
Gupta highlights the need to adopt strategies to add value to Nigerian agricultural products, in order to increase their acceptability in markets and increase their commercial value. NAHCO will play a key role in connecting farmers and middlemen with export markets. Currently, almost 95% of goods in Nigeria are imported, highlighting the need to develop the export sector to generate foreign exchange earnings for the country.
The positive impact on the air transport sector and the need for investments:
Gupta expresses hope that the purchasing power of Nigerians will improve, which will lead to an increase in air traffic in the country, thereby having a positive impact on the export of agricultural products. He acknowledges, however, that the economic recession has had an impact on investments in ground support equipment (GSE). This is why NAHCO plans to invest N1 billion in export of goods, with focus on five major airports.
Conclusion :
Nigeria has enormous potential to become a major exporter of agricultural products. By focusing on exporting to other African countries, Nigerian producers can not only bridge the supply-demand gap in the domestic market but also contribute to the country’s economic growth. The establishment of export processing centers and emphasis on value addition to agricultural products will play a vital role in the development of Nigeria’s export industry. It is time for Nigerians to embrace this opportunity and help reverse the trend of import dependence.