The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, says Nigeria’s non-oil export has risen to $1.791 billion in the first quarter, 2025.
Mrs. Ayeni told the one-day sensitisation programme organised by the Council for Sesame seed farmers, on Thursday in Dutse, Jigawa.state in northern Nigeria that the export value represented 24.75 per cent increase compared to 19.59 per cent for the first quarter of 2024.
Represented by the Chief Trade Promotion Officer of the NEPC, Okany Chika Sylvia, Mrs. Ayeni said that the non-oil performance in 2024, indicated that sesame seed ranked number three out of the top 20 export products, amounting to 337.8258 metric tonnes with 4.63 per cent of the quantity exported.
“Nigeria can obtain a significant share in the enormous forex from sesame seed export in the global market,” she said.
Ayeni stressed the need to enhance the sesame yields and production in Nigeria in order to maximise the export potentials along the value chain.
According to her, the export of Nigeria’s sesame seed to Japan between 2019 and 2021, was allegedly threatened due to the discovery of excess pesticide residue and salmonella.
“The offshoot of this discovery was raised by Japan Oil and Fat Importers and Exporters Association (JOFIEA) on 5th August, 2022.
“Relatively, the Japanese Authorities allegedly confirmed that a high dose of pesticide residue found in Sesame Seed exported to Japan between 2019-2021 was 1.9 times in excess of Maximum Residue Limit (MRL),” she said.
She highlighted that some of the challenges related to sesame seed export include poor compliance with sanitary and phytosanitary requirements, cross contamination during handling process, and lack of proper documentation by exporters.
The NEPC official highlighted some of the solutions to include addressing contaminant issue from the farm gate to the market, comprehensive approach and leveraging training of farmers on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).
“The introduction of technology driven traceability system, tackling logistic hurdles, packaging and product differentiation will also curtail the situation.
“Quality testing, deployment of modern technology, awareness campaign as well as establishment of good storage system is vital,” she said.
Sylvia advocated the establishment of clusters within medium term frame, stressing that the council would engage relevant stakeholders to ensure zero rejection of agricultural exports, especially sesame seed.
“We believe that through strategic engagement, partnerships Nigeria’s sesame seed export will be boosted and competitively repositioned across major destination markets,” she added.
GIK/APA