12/04/2023
The Director General Madam Fatima Wushishi was part of the commissioning of the Multi purpose commodity cleaning centre in Niger State.
Here are some of the highlights of the event
SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE DIRECTOR GENERAL, NIGER STATE COMMODITY AND EXPORT PROMOTIONAT THE OFFICIAL COMMISSIONING AND INSPECTION OF THE PILOT MULTI-PURPOSE COMMODITY CLEANING CENTRE FOR EXPORTS IN NIGER STATE ON WEDNESDAY 15TH MARCH 2023
Protocols:
His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, The SSG, The Honorable Commissioners, The Permanent Secretaries here present, Other distinguished guests here present, Distinguished participants, Members of the Press, The Security Personnel, Ladies and Gentlemen, Good Morning.
1.I am happy to join you at this occasion of the commissioning and inspection of the pilot multi-purpose commodity cleaning centre for exports in Minna, Niger State.
2.Niger State is diversely and richly endowed with great potential for export across multiple sectors, particularly Agriculture, Livestock & Fisheries, Solid Minerals, and Arts & Crafts. The State is particularly focused on the Agriculture sector and the export of agro-commodities as the most viable means of driving economic growth, rural development and poverty reduction, income generation and job creation. The state has a good competitive advantage, with large productive workforce, rich abundant lands, central location and a varied climate capable of supporting multiple farming systems.
3. As Niger State supports the national drive to diversify the economy towards non-oil exports, we have identified core export crops in which we have a comparative advantage. These core crops, sesame, soybeans, cashew, shea and yam are in line with the priority crops outlined under the national zero oil plan.
4. We intend to boost the export of not just raw commodities but also semi-finished and finished goods thereby increasing our export earnings. Therefore we are focused on increased productivity and production, value addition and marketing and distribution of these core crops and their derivatives.
5. In order for any product to access and retain a presence in the global markets, they have to meet the stringent quality and handling parameters of the destination markets it is crucial that these standards be maintained to prevent rejection of the goods at the delivery locations. As mentioned once a product gains access to a market, it has to retain that access by standardizing the quality and ensuring sustainability and traceability of supplies.
6. A crucial stage in ensuring and maintaining quality of a commodity is the post harvest stage. It is essential that once a product is harvested, it is stored in a modern warehouse using standard handling techniques. This will maintain not just the quality but also promote traceability of the goods. In partnership with the State Ministry for Agriculture and a private sector partner, we have been able to revive and commence storage operations for farmers in 16 warehouses in the State, thereby protecting their harvests.
7. Typically for export-focused products such as sesame, the raw product containing impurities such as sand, stones and chaff, is aggregated and moved out of the state for initial value addition, that is extensive cleaning and packaging, for exports. This has caused the state to lose crucial revenue over the years, in addition, there has been no brand recognition for Niger State sesame in the global markets.
9. Therefore, after extensive consultations with the exporters in the state, represented by the Niger State Shippers Association and the support of His Excellency, Niger State via the State Ministry of Investment and the Niger State Commodity and Export Promotion Agency, partnered with the National Sesame Seeds Association of Nigeria, to establish a pilot mulit-purpose commodity cleaning centre with a capacity of 60MT/day was established.
10. This centre will enable aggregated sesame and other commodities to be cleaned and packaged for export directly from Niger State. We are happy to say that the establishment of the cleaning centre in Minna has been well received by the exporters in the State and we look forward to working in partnership with the Operator of the centre, JM Goma International, an experienced exporting company, to ensure the successful operation of the centre. Oversight of the facility will be provided by the Niger State Commodity and Export Promotion Agency.
11. It should also be of note that this centre will also showcase some of the finished products from our entrepreneurs in the cosmetics and food sector, thereby marketing their goods to potential buyers that visit the centre. In addition, this centre will employ up to 20 women and youth and it is our intention that this initiative be replicated across all zones in the State.
12. I should also mention that we are also making great strides in promoting the movement of goods from Niger State to other parts of the world making strategic partnerships with distribution partners in key target locations. These partnerships include that with JM Goma to access the North African market, via the NEPC Export Trade House in Egypt and also with with Ancestral House Global, the operators of the Export trade House (ETH) in Kenya to capture the export market in countries in East Africa, North America and Asia. The Niger State Commodity and Export Promotion Agency will be working with these partners to facilitate markets for farmers, producers and exporters in Niger State.
13. Finally I would like to acknowledge and thank the following people, whose support and efforts have brought us here today, first of all His Excellency, Alh Abubakar Sani Bello, Hon Commissioner of Investment, Hajiya Rahmatu Yaradua, Mr Sheriff Balogun, the president of the National Shippers Association of Nigeria, Mr Jamilu Goma, the Vice President of the Nigerian Shippers Association and his members and the staff of the Niger State Commodity and Export Promotion Agency
14. Once again I thank all the stakeholders and I wish us a successful commissioning.
15. Thank You.
