OPEXA made submission to the Vice President seeking His Excellency’s intervention for redemption of the backlog of Negotiable Duty Credit Certificates. Representations were also made to the concerns ministries of Industry, Trade& Investment(MITI), Finance and Budget & National Planning. OPEXA was informed that Inter-Ministerial Committee set up under the aegis of MITI had submitted its report containing recommendations on the restoration of EEG policy and treatment of backlog. It was learnt that the Committee’s report had been tabled before the Finance minister.
Media
Media events were organised in July. OPEXA secretariat led by Executive Secretary Mr. JP Olarewaju and other members made a presentation to the editorial boards of the This Day and Daily Trust. Mr. Hamma Kwajaffa,Director General of Nigerian Textile Manufacturers Association(NTMA), too lent his support to the interactive session with the media.A press conference was also held at Abuja. News about the prevailing situation in the non-oil export sector was widely reported in the mainstream print media. Excerpts from the press have been posted on OPEXA website. Press note released by OPEXA is available on the website.
NEPC
OPEXA was invited to the 2nd meeting of the “Technical Committee on new basket of incentives in Nigeria” organised by NEPC at Abuja on 26th July. The Association made out a case for continuation of EEG policy and introduction of special incentives earmarked for SME’s to encourage the enterprise integration into export production.
A copy of the position paper submitted to NEPC is available on the OPEXA website.
Mr. JP Olarewaju,Executive Secretary at NEPC meeting to discuss new basket of incentives on 26 July 2016
March 2016
OPEXA continued to seek the intervention of key ministers and policy makers for a clear policy on non-oil export sector
On 8th March 2016, OPEXA paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Budget & National Planning. Honourable Minister Sen Udo Udoma along with the Minister of State Hajiya Zainab Ahmed supported by senior ministry officials cordially received the delegation led by Executive Secretary Mr. JP Olarewaju. The delegation consisted of major exporters Olam, TGI Group and Mamuda Group. Alhaji Mohammad Salisu Umar, Trustee, and senior executives Mr. Aliyu Umar Maji(TGI Group) and Mr. Ade Adefeko and Mr.Prakakash Kanth (Olam) were present. OPEXA recalled Honourable Minister’s leadership role as the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Review of Incentives, Waivers and Concessions in 2008. Notably the Committee had recognized the positive impact of the EEG Scheme and recommended its sustainability to diversify the economy and generate employment. The ministers assured the delegation that the ministry was aware of the issues affecting the non-oil export sector due to stalemate in acceptance of NDCC’s. OPEXA was informed that the ministry had been approached by several other stakeholders and it was on the ministry’s agenda to find a solution.
The association was invited by the Minister of Finance Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, to discuss the issues facing the non-oil export sector and prescribe solutions. A large delegation comprising 15 exporting members led by Mr. JP Olarewaju,Executive Secretary met with the Honourable Minister to apprise her of the situation prevailing in the non-oil export sector and seek intervention from the Ministry of Finance. A presentation was made to the minister and other senior officials to highlight the impact on non-oil exports on the Nigerian economy and need for incentives. The issue of backlog of NDCC’s was raised. The minister assured that the ministry was looking into the matter and a stakeholder forum would be convened to come up with a holistic policy on exports.
February 2016
OPEXA continued to seek the intervention of key ministers and policy makers for a clear policy on non-oil export sector.
The association was invited by the Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (MITI) to discuss the issues facing the non-oil export sector and prescribe solutions. Subsequent to the meeting a delegation of OPEXA led by Executive Secretary Mr JP Olarewaju called upon the Director (Commodities) to press for a stakeholder meeting on the EEG issue. It was learnt that the ministry has taken the initiative to revive the Cabinet memo on EEG policy for consideration by the Council. The memo is currently undergoing review by other ministries
OPEXA paid a courtesy call on ED/CEO of NEPC Dr. Olusegun Awolowo. The delegation was led by Mr. JP Olarewaju, Executive Secretary accompanied by trustee Alh. MS Umar and consisted of leading exporting members. A position paper on the issues facing the sector was presented to the NEPC boss who assured to take up the matter at higher levels. He also revealed that NEPC was working on a strategic vision aptly called “Zero Oil Plan” to grow Nigeria’s non-oil exports to fast track diversification.
A press conference was arranged in February to raise awareness about urgency of issues affecting the performance of the non-oil sector,particularly with respect to backlog of EEG. OPEXA raised the red flag on steep decline in Nigeria’s non-oil exports to $ 1.6 billion in 2015 – a 40 percent fall in exports achieved in 2014.
October-December 2015
OPEXA continued to mobilise efforts to draw the attention of policy makers to treat the backlog of NDCC’s. Representations were made to the new ministers.
A position paper highlighting the contribution of non-oil exports to the economic diversification in general and employment generation in particular, was circulated to key ministries and parastatals such as Finance, Industry&Trade, Planning& Budgeting and NEPC. Executive Secretary Mr. JP Olarewaju, along with representatives of exporter members interacted with key officials in Abuja.
OPEXA participated in the stakeholder meeting organised by NEPC at Kano and Lagos on 16-18th November to present the findings of the “Report of the Exercise on the Restriction of the Usage and Non-Acceptance of the Negotiable Duty Credit Certificates (NDCC) on the Beneficiaries of Export Expansion Grant (EEG) Scheme from 2009 – 2014”
OPEXA was represented by Executive Secretary Mr. JP Olarewaju in Lagos and Trustee Alhaji MS Umar in Kano. A position paper containing the views and suggestions of the association was submitted to NEPC.
September 2015
OPEXA was represented at the official visit of H.E., President Mohammadu Buhari to France on 15th September.Alhaji MS Umar,Trustee and other prominent OPEXA member exporters accompanied the ED/CEO of NEPC Mr. Olusegun Awolowo as part of the NEPC exporters’ business delegation in the Presidential delegation to France.
August 2015
OPEXA Secretariat visited Abuja to pay a courtesy visit to key Federal Government ministries and organisations. The delegation was led by Mr. J.P.Olarewaju, Executive Secretary and Alhaji M.S.Umar,Trustee and representatives of exporting companies. During the courtesy call,the officials submitted a letter of introduction about OPEXA and expressed a keen interest to cooperate with the policy makers for successful implementation of government policies to diversify the economy and create jobs through non-oil exports.
The visited MDA’s included:
Federal Ministry of Finance
Federal Ministry of Industry,Trade and Investment
Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development
Nigerian Export Promotion Council(NEPC)
Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN)
Nigeria Customs Service(NCS)
In addition to the government organisations, OPEXA also reached out to OPS bodies such as MAN and NACCIMA to foster cooperation and making joint efforts to engage the policy makers for development of the non-oil export sector.
The secretariat plans to continuously engage with the Federal Government organisations to address the issues faced by the non-oil export sector. OPEXA will proactively reach out to the new government leaders when they assume charge of their new ministries.
