In the last three quarters of 2009, Nigeria recorded the sum of $900 million (about N135 billion) from non-oil export.

Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council, Mr. David Adulugba told newsmen in Abuja yesterday that in 2007 the trade volume of non- oil exports was at $1.8 billion, while it increased to $1.9 billion in 2008.

He was unhappy that it was difficult getting proper statistics on the sector because of the informal nature of most of the activities in the sector.

According to him: "It is saddening that we can't capture the informal trade data, though we are trying to document the nation's exports activities."

He stressed that his council was working with stakeholders in the sector to improve formal export trade using the ECOBIZ and NEXTPORTRADE schemes.

He listed some of the stakeholders to include the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Export Group (MANEG), Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (SMEDAN), Nigeria Association of Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACIMA) and the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME).

His words, "This initiative will address loss of government revenues arising from informal trade in the sub-Saharan Africa as well as avail government, policy makers and development partners the opportunity to obtain credible trade statistics needed to capture economic trends for decision making purposes.

"It will further address effective planning technique for national development, which is critical for the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)."

The Chairman of the MANEG, Mr. Romeo Barberopolous observed that Nigeria had the largest share of informal trade to other African countries.

"If you go to other countries in Africa, you will found made-In Nigeria goods littering nooks and cranny of those countries because of their high quality standard," he said.

Source: Guardian