Nigeria to eliminate multiple cargo examination

Nigerian government has disclosed that it has  intensified measures to eliminate multiple cargo screening, encourage priority and free movement of designated export containers to increase export volume.

The Secretary of the Presidential Business Enabling Environment Council (PEBEC), Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, stated this in Abuja at a session on the Midway National Action Plan (NAP) 7.0.

The session is critical to the trajectory of the seventh iteration of the NAP 7.0 60-day accelerator, and updates on the progress of the agricultural and non-agricultural export plan.

Oduwole, who is also special adviser to the president on ease of doing business, said the implementation of the designated export warehouse (DEW) project would speed up the process.

She said that this was necessary to improve the drastic reduction in the current time for the examination of export cargo, as well as the congestion in the terminals and to create space for new containers.

“A reform in the payment and verification process will boost foreign exchange earnings from exports if exporters have unrestricted access to the foreign exchange earnings they earn.

“It is also pertinent to extend the privileges granted to remittances from the Diaspora to have free access to their foreign currency.

“The essence of NAP 7.0 is also to ensure a higher volume of exports and volume of foreign exchange in the country.”

He explained that the Federal Government through PEBEC had established a 60-day export action plan as part of its efforts to make it easier for people to do business in the country.

The 60-day agro-export action plan is part of the priority reforms to be implemented, Departments and Agencies (MDA), to boost ease of doing business in Nigeria.

At the end of the 60-day window, MSMEs are expected to experience an easier time doing business in the country.

The action plan, among other things, aims to ensure that perishable agricultural products destined for export can move freely through our ports.

She said NAP 7.0 was designed to break the “mediocre performance” of previous plans, in which relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) underperformed by 44 and 43 percent.

“In fact, the faithful implementation of the agro-export scheme is expected to boost the competitiveness of Nigeria’s agro-exports and create jobs.

“It will also enhance Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings and provide good rewards for the work of farmers across Nigeria,” he said.

Giving more explanation about NAP 7.0. Agro-export reform interim progress report on day 30 of 60, expressed concern that some MDAs were making slow progress in terms of reform.

She said a collaborative approach was necessary to get everyone on the same page.

“That’s why we’re very transparent because everyone needs to be on the same page to understand what the issues are and what we’re trying to accomplish, where we are and where we hope to be.

“We need to be transparent and tell everyone that this is where we are today, right now some are at 22 or 32 percent, and we all knew what we could do.

“For whatever reasons, some MDAs are making progress and some are not, some have given different reasons. Some are legit while some are not,” she said.

According to her, there is a possibility that some MDA could do better and are not doing it.

“Whether we feel there are challenges limiting them or we feel there is apathy or something else, the challenges are not insurmountable.

“What we can do is push, this is the mid-term report and it will be presented to PEBEC

“We promised Nigerians that we will give the interim report, now as a team let us all see it together.”

Therefore, he asked for the cooperation of all MDAs to achieve the goal set for NAP 7.0.

The Nigerian News Agency reports that Oduwole was assisted by David Uzosike, Head of Technical Unit, PEBEC, Ayokunnu Ojeniyi, Project Manager of PEBEC and Toyin Bashir, Head of Legal Group, PEBEC during the presentation of the report. .