Nigeria: Press zooms in on WTO’s programme to address Nigeria’s agric export challenges, others

The inauguration of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has inaugurated a 1.2 million-dollar programme to improve export standards of Nigeria’s sesame and cowpea products is one of the trending stories in Nigerian newspapers on Wednesday.
The Vanguard newspaper reports that the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has inaugurated a 1.2 million-dollar programme to improve export standards of Nigeria’s sesame and cowpea products.
The WTO Director-General, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said this at the launch of the seven trade support programmes for Nigeria initiated by the WTO, World Bank, and ITC on Tuesday in Abuja.
Okonjo-Iweala said the projects aimed at tackling cases of rejection of Nigeria’s products on the international market.
She said the project was inaugurated with the Standards Trade Development Facility (STDF), International Trade Centre (ITC), and the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC).
According to her, the project will support international safety and quality certification for sesame and cowpeas in Nigeria.
She said Nigeria’s agriculture sector had the potential to be a major driver of export diversification and job creation, but too much of this potential remained unrealized due to barriers.
“We all know the story about Nigeria being a significant exporter of palm kernels, groundnuts, palm oil, cotton, and cocoa, but the country has since become a net importer of many of these goods.
“In fact, Nigeria has not only lost out in agricultural export markets; it is also a net food importer, spending about billions a year on goods, many of which we can also produce here.
“Nigeria used to be a formidable agricultural exporter. Up until the mid-1960s, the country’s share of world agricultural exports was more than one per cent.
“However, agricultural exports collapsed as the economy shifted towards petroleum exploitation, and by the mid-1980s, Nigeria’s world market share for agricultural products had dwindled to less than 0.1 percent,” she said.
The newspaper says that the Nigeria Port Authority, NPA has said that cargo inflow into the country has increased by 200 per cent to 900,000 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units, TEUs, from 300,000 TEUs, due to the ongoing port reform.
The Managing Director of NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko disclosed while speaking at a breakfast meeting organized by Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) on the theme: Examining the Challenges Hindering the Efficiency of e-Call up System and Solutions.
Represented by General Manger, MD’s office, Mr. Ayo Durowaye, Koko said that port reform was undertaken but many people did not know that there were aspects of institutional reform and infrastructural reform, some of which government is dealing with at the moment.
He said, “We have seen positive effect of the reform in terms of expanding the possibilities of the economy as we saw increased cargo inflow into the country. The time we are talking about we were doing between 300,000 to 400,000 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units, TEUs, we are moving in the era of 900,000 and one million TEUs, so where would they be, where would you be keeping all these trucks that would service the number we are dealing with?
“The system must be allowed to open up and expand, that is where you experience development.”
Meanwhile, President National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, Lucky Amiwero, faulted the concession agreement saying there was no proper legislative framework backing the agreement
Amiwero said before the ceding of port operation to terminal operators in 2005, there was no such thing as gridlock; each port operated their holding bay, where trucks wait to load their respective consignments out of the port.
He added that the hindrances that constitute the gridlock and economic waste to the nation was lack of holding bays and trailer packs, adding that, that was the essence of the problem on Eto.
He lamented that the country operates the most expensive port in the world, maintaining that the gridlock at the port access road was a huge economic drain and a national embarrassment as a result of ceding port operations among other issues.
The Punch reports that President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday said his administration reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to securing the Gulf of Guinea.
Tinubu said this when he received the Special Envoy of the President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, at the State House, Abuja.
A statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, explained that Tinubu was responding to a request for a state visit from President Mbasogo, presented by his Special Presidential Envoy and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Simeon Oyono Esono Angue.
The statement is titled ‘Nigeria reaffirms commitment to enhancing maritime security in gulf of Guinea.’
Mbasogo had emphasised the need to revitalise the Nigeria-Equatorial Guinea Joint Commission.
He also harped on the importance of fostering greater cooperation in various sectors, including oil and gas, and trade.
Responding, Tinubu “reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to enhancing maritime security and safety in the Gulf of Guinea,” said Ngelale.
Mbasogo had emphasised the need to revitalise the Nigeria-Equatorial Guinea Joint Commission.
He also harped on the importance of fostering greater cooperation in various sectors, including oil and gas, and trade.
Responding, Tinubu “reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to enhancing maritime security and safety in the Gulf of Guinea,” said Ngelale.
The newspaper says that the National Automotive Design and Development Council has announced plans to validate its National Occupational Standards for the conversion and maintenance of electric vehicles and Compressed Natural Gas vehicles.
The Director-General of NADDC, Joseph Osanipin disclosed this during the validation workshop exercise for the draft of the national standards for auto gas vehicles in Nasarawa recently.
He stated that the primary objective of the workshop was to develop a blueprint for skills development and standardised operational procedures in the conversion, calibration, and maintenance of those new automotive energy sources, aligning with the government’s renewed hope agenda.
Osanipin noted that upon approval of the draft by the National Assembly, it would facilitate job creation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as ongoing plans include the establishment of more CNG gas stations in Abuja.
He said, “If we achieve what the Federal Government wants us to achieve with autogas, it will reduce the dependency on PMS and diesel and mitigate environmental concerns. It will also create more jobs and wealth for the nation.”
According to Osanipin, the essence of the workshop was to ensure that the input of all relevant stakeholders was captured in the making of this national document.
He added, “This is in line with international best practices, it is expected that the document will come out of this effort at international standards and help to drive the auto sector to global standards.”
GIK/APA