By Ben Adoga
A group of women in agro-business processing and exportation has decried what they say is multiple taxations, outright extortion, and other forms of corruption in Nigerian ports.
Speaking at the official launch of women agro-processors AGRICGEN exporters initiative and flag-off of the national export center. at the International Conference Centre, Abuja on Thursday, President of the group, Mrs. Esther Folasayo Adebayo said the Federal Government should transform Nigeria’s port operations.
“I think that the Federal Government should not be decongesting the Ports in Nigeria but engage in transforming the Ports.”
She said: “This must start with cleaning up administrative bottlenecks/ most of which are unnecessary with multiple government agencies at the port, high transaction cost, or even plain extortion from illegal taxes, which do not go into the coffers of the government.”
She pointed out that ports are not just there for equipment revenue generation, but that they should be for facilitating business and exports as well as stimulating industrial manufacturing, and competitiveness of local businesses and exports.
Adebayo also decried the exorbitant cost of export through Nigerian ports and did a comparative analysis: “ According to the sector operators, the cost of exporting 100 tons of cargo in Nigeria is $35,000.00 compared to $4,000.00 in Ghana. Today the leading ports for West Africa are in Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo and the Benin Republic.
All these countries have modernized their port management systems, leaving Nigeria far behind,” she stated.
Adebayo also called on the Federal Government to increase the training and employment of extension workers and other supportive services to boost the increase in agricultural production.
Pointing out that Nigeria’s youth population is over 75% and that decisive actions needed to be taken to turn this demographic asset into an economic dividend.
“ A young productive, youthful population with access to education, skills, social protection, affordable housing, and medical care will power Nigeria’s economy now and well into the future,” she postulated.
She urged governments at all levels to stop giving handouts to youths but to properly engage them as they need investments in agro-business which she said is well loaded with millions of job creation potentials for the youths.
We’ll always insist on due diligence – Malami
She challenged state governments, to establish farm settlements, clusters of agro producers, extension services, farm settlement estates that would be equipped with basic amenities including the internet to discourage rural to urban migration.
On his part, the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Olusade Adesola pledged the cooperation of the FCT Administration towards the establishment of the center in Abuja.
He also called on the leadership of WAPAGIEN to expand their membership by making it more inclusive and opening it up for rural women to participate too
