Captain Kenneth Wemambo, Director of Operations, Omni Blu has said the rejection of Nigeria ‘s agro- products by the international community is due to a myriad of reasons not limited to traceability issues, compliance issues, certification issues and others.
He made this known at the 3rd Chinet Aviacargo Conference with the theme: Unlocking the Logistics Barrier to Improve Agro Products Exports where he said 90% of what is sent out are raw products without added value or breakdown of the agro products.
Also speaking at the event on the Role of Logistics in Enhancing Seamless Cargo Export, Managing Director JOHDIC Resources limited, John Ekeanya said that a survey conducted by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry indicates that the Nigerian economy lost an estimated annual revenue $8.1bn ( N3.46 trn) due to poor infrastructure, poor implementation, and corruption at the ports.
Ekeanya also said highlighted impediments affecting effective logistics in Nigeria including insecurity /banditry, infrastructural deficits, multi – taxation /high tariff, poor government policies on trade / export, poor incentives for exporters, inconsistent availability of farm produce/other exportable goods,poor storage facilities such as silos, cold rooms, etc. As well as poor trade agreements
On solutions he proposed addressing the menace of insecurity and banditry, securing the farms for farmers as well as Improving the railway system.
According to him, equipping special-purpose cargo airport all over the country with the appropriate storage facilities and processing, building silos, warehouses for agro products and manufactured goods.
Captain Wemambo who spoke on the international community rejecting goods asked what countries Nigeria exporters ship to and what they ship.
He equally said it is not discrimination when goods are rejected. He said,” it is not discrimination, we have not complied. If we have good produce to export will the EU not buy it? It means we have to clean up our produce back home. There must be product traceability, you must have the information of your product. Where it comes from? Where it is registered? What was the process? You must have the information or nobody will take your products.
He said,” why are they rejecting our produces? What countries do we ship to? Asia? Europe? Some states in the United States? What we ship out 90% are raw stages, this is not sustainable. When theu are processed, you have it better . We shouldn’t be exporting raw products, we should break down our agro-product and add some value.”
He equally decried that government hardly deals with small holder farms stating that these farmers should have access to funds.
” How are you( Government) helping small holder farmers who consist of 90% of farmers in Nigeria who have between 20-20 hectares to get accessible loans. Which farm will take a loan with the current interest rate and is asked to begin payment in the next month? ”
Earlier, Convener of the Chinet AviaCargo, Ambassador Ikechi Uko in his opening speech said Nigeria has the money and resources, and need to get things right.
He said, “Today marks another day of knowledge sharing along the Aviacargo Value Chain. We have many experts in Nigeria. We have money in Nigeria. We have resources in Nigeria, but we have not been able to get many things right. What has been missing is the willpower and resolve to bring together these variables into a workable mix.
He said, Chinet, in the past 2 years, has succeeded in bringing together materials to help grow the economy.
“We have broken the silos and have brought together strange bedfellows. We have strung together a patchwork of important Government Agencies and private sector experts to develop a roadmap for Aviacargo growth in Nigeria. We have created a community for the growth of Aviacargo in Nigeria. People are reaching out of their comfort zones to engage successfully.”
