The Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has said that non-oil exports is the way to go if Nigeria must meet her national and global economic demands.
Executive Director/CEO of NEPC, Dr Ezra Yakusak, said this at a five-day export promotion capacity building programme.
He noted that recent developments in our national economy and indeed the global economy had made it clear that more emphasis should now be laid on export of our vast resources if we must survive as a nation.
Yakusak who was represented by Babatunde Falake, Director, International Export Office, NEPC, decried Nigeria’s continued reliance on export of crude oil as the major source of foreign exchange, despite it’s other abundant resources.
He said that the council’s zero oil plan developed in response to the recession in 2016 following the crash in crude oil prices, was targeted to prepare Nigeria for a world with less emphasis on export of crude oil.
Yakusak explained that it is a strategy for boosting foreign exchange through the non-oil export policies for 22 major products that could generate up to $30 billion foreign exchange within a period of five years.
He expressed NEPC’s commitment to continue to support efforts in sensitising Nigerians to embrace non-oil export as a viable option for economic growth and survival.
According to him, in line with the commitment, the Council recently launched the ‘Export 4 Survival’ campaign which is aimed at sensitising Nigerians from all walks of life to embrace non-oil export as a viable option for our economic growth and survival.
“The campaign is already making an impact as the council with its activities is now more on the limelight nationwide.
“It is expected that this will definitely result in increased revenue from the non-oil sector in the near future.”
