In a renewed effort to strengthen Nigeria’s non-oil export sector, the Federal Government and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) have pledged to address persistent challenges hindering exporters and ensure the full restoration of the Export Expansion Grant (EEG) as part of a broader drive to boost trade competitiveness and diversify the economy.
Speaking during the Annual General Meeting and public discourse of the MAN Export Promotion Group (MANEG) held in Lagos on Tuesday, the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, said the government was determined to fix the long-standing structural issues facing exporters, particularly those related to the Export Expansion Grant scheme.
Oduwole, represented by the Assistant Chief Commercial Officer at the ministry, Hajara Usman, assured that the ministry was “fully aware of the difficulties confronting exporters” and was taking concrete steps to strengthen inter-agency coordination, reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks, and streamline documentation processes.
Government Targets Trade Reform Through Export Expansion Grant Revival
According to the minister, the Federal Government has established a technical working group to review and resolve outstanding EEG claims and fast-track payments to deserving exporters.
The move, she said, would restore confidence in the incentive framework designed to support manufacturers seeking to compete globally.
“We are working closely with the Ministry of Finance to ensure all pending claims under the Export Expansion Grant are cleared.
The government recognizes the importance of this incentive in stimulating non-oil exports,” Oduwole said.
She added that the ministry was digitising customs procedures, harmonising standards across borders, and improving logistics infrastructure to enhance export operations.
“Nigeria’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) requires decisive action to overcome non-tariff barriers, weak industrial capacity, and poor infrastructure.
The Export Expansion Grant will be a key tool in achieving this goal,” she explained.
Oduwole also identified challenges such as congested ports, high energy costs, and overlapping regulations as major obstacles inflating exporters’ operational costs and eroding competitiveness.
MAN Advocates Policy Clarity and Infrastructure Reform
Chairperson of the MAN Export Promotion Group, Odiri Erewa-Meggison, commended the government’s renewed commitment to clearing EEG backlogs but called for comprehensive policy reform to make the scheme more efficient and transparent.
“Manufacturing exporters have struggled with declining competitiveness due to high exchange rates, poor infrastructure, and energy costs,” she said.
“We urge the Federal Government to conduct a full policy review of the Export Expansion Grant and ensure it aligns with the realities of the export market.”
Erewa-Meggison appreciated the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) for supporting the submission of baseline export data for 2023 and 2024, describing it as a critical step towards better planning and transparency in the non-oil export sector.
She further noted that while the AfCFTA offered immense potential for Nigerian manufacturers, unresolved domestic constraints could prevent the country from maximizing its benefits.
Experts Urge Value Addition and Market Diversification
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Olawale Ogunkola of the University of Ibadan emphasised the need for Nigeria to move beyond raw material exports and invest in value addition.
“We must build value chains that transform primary products into finished goods. The cocoa industry provides an excellent example of what’s possible when we process locally,” Ogunkola said.
He cautioned that Nigeria’s heavy reliance on oil revenue exposed the economy to global volatility, insisting that a functional Export Expansion Grant and diversified export destinations would help stabilise foreign exchange earnings.
“We must diversify both our products and destinations. The EEG is a vital incentive that can reposition Nigeria as a competitive player in global trade,” he added.
NEPZA, MAN, and Industry Stakeholders Push for Synergy
The Director-General of MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, reaffirmed that growing non-oil exports remained critical to sustaining Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms and industrial recovery.
“Manufacturing has suffered from years of policy neglect, but export promotion through instruments like the Export Expansion Grant provides a pathway to industrial revitalisation,” Ajayi-Kadir said.
He stressed that supporting local investors and manufacturers was key to reviving the economy.
“When we empower producers and exporters, we strengthen the Naira, expand industrial capacity, and create jobs,” he said.
Ajayi-Kadir further urged the government to continue its collaboration with the private sector through policy dialogues and trade facilitation platforms, noting that the partnership between the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, MAN, and NEPC was central to ensuring sustainable export growth.
The Road Ahead for Nigeria’s Export Sector
Stakeholders at the MANEG meeting agreed that coordinated reforms in infrastructure, customs operations, and financing incentives like the Export Expansion Grant would be crucial to making Nigeria a leading export hub under the AfCFTA framework.
The event, themed “Difficulties in Export Trading under Multilateral Trade Agreements: A Threat to AfCFTA Implementation,” drew representatives from government agencies, academia, and private enterprises.
Consensus emerged that for Nigeria to benefit from regional trade agreements, it must urgently resolve the challenges surrounding trade facilitation, logistics costs, and access to export financing.
Industry leaders concluded that the effective implementation of the Export Expansion Grant would not only enhance competitiveness but also unlock new opportunities for diversification, foreign investment, and industrial growth.
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