Nigeria sets 60-day Target to Export Perishable Agric
The Federal Government has again set another 60-day export action plan to ensure that perishable agricultural produce set for export are allowed to move freely through Nigerian ports.
This is the seventh time the government is setting the 60-day target as its agencies performed poorly during the previous 60-day action plans, hence the need for another. The 60-days agro-export action plan is part of the priority reforms to be implemented by select ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), to drive ease of doing business in Nigeria.
According to the government, this was part of its efforts to make it easier for people to do business in Nigeria. However, the new 60-day target comes after Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo decried how regulatory requirements and elongated certification processes are killing Nigerian businesses especially, the export of perishable agricultural produce.
“There are too many regulatory requirements. Too many regulations kill output. We have to take a second look at how we regulate. Over-regulation is killing businesses. It kills investments. An agric exporter can’t export perishable produce after months,” Osinbajo said.
Speaking at the launch of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council’s (PEBEC) 7th 60-day National Action Plan (NAP) in Abuja on Monday, the special adviser to the president on ease of doing business, Jumoke Oduwole, said the seventh NAP is designed to break away from the “lacklustre performance” of the previous plans.
According to Oduwole, the previous plans saw the relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) perform below par at 44 and 43 per cent. “In the area of ports and trade facilitation, the focus is on a 60-day agro-export action plan targeted at ensuring that perishable agricultural produce earmarked for export are allowed to move freely through our ports. “Indeed, the faithful implementation of the agro-export plan is expected to boost the competitiveness of Nigeria’s agro-exports and create jobs while enhancing Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings and providing good rewards for the labours of farmers all across Nigeria,” the presidential aide said.
She highlighted automation, regulatory, legislative/judicial, and executive order compliance as other areas that would be reformed. The order provides the full executive backing for reforms aimed at creating an enabling environment for businesses by entrenching measures and strategies aimed at promoting transparency and efficiency in public service delivery. “Indeed, an enabling business climate is critical for achieving the successful implementation of the recently launched National Development Plan 2021-2025, as 86% of the funding requirement for the implementation of the Plan is to be private sector-driven,” she added.
sourceAgro Nigeria:
