By Daniel Tyokua
The Women Agro Processors Agricgen and Exporters Initiative (WAPAGEIN) has sought sweeping reforms in the nation’s ports management system.
President of the group, Esther Adebayo, stated this during inauguration of the initiative and National Export Centre, on Thursday in Abuja.
She urged the federal government to modernize and transform activities in the ports sector.
“I am of the opinion that the Federal Government should not be decongesting the Ports in Nigeria but engage in transforming the ports.
” 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 in to the coffers of the government.
” Nigeria should rapidly modernize and transform its ports. Ports are not there for equipment revenue generation. They should be for facilitating business and exports, and stimulating industrial manufacturing, and competitiveness of local business and exports.
” Papers and other document are to be forwarded on Internet to other country of destination, and all meris, calle eight, collected and According to the sector Operators.
She disclosed that the cost of exporting 100tons of cargo in Nigeria was 35,000.00 dollars compared to 4000.00 dollars in Ghana.
“Today the leading ports for West Africa are in Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo and Benin Republic. All these countries have modernised their Port management Systems, leaving Nigeria far behind.”
She also emphasised the need for the Federal Government to increase the training and employment of extension workers and other supportive services to boost increase in agricultural production.
“We must unleash the potential of the youths of Nigeria. Today over 75 per cent of the population is under the age of 35 years.
“More decisive actions are needed 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.
“We must move away from so called youth empowerment programs “The youth do not need hands out”. They need investments. Agro business is well loaded with millions of jobs creation for the youths.”
Women Agro Processors, Agricgen and Exporters Initiative (WAPAGEIN) is a non-governmental and not-for profit organization established to promote agric businesses, entrepreneurships, youth and women development careers.
WAPAGEIN has a network of agribusiness marketing professionals from across Nigeria. With chapters located in the six geopolitical zones including the FCT.
