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FG owes exporters N1.29tn, decline in non-oil export
By Modupe Shodeinde
Chairman of manufacturer’s association states that Federal government owes exporters N1.29tn export expansion grant for three years.
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Export Promotion Group’s Chairman, Ede Dafinone, said non-payments of the grants coupled with border closure have led to a decline in non-oil exports.
He explained that only N197bn had been approved for payment by the National Assembly through Promissory Notes.
This, he said, represents only 17 percent of the total 2017 exporters expansion grant to be paid to the exporters.
“The full payment for the 2017 EEG has not been paid. Sometime in 2019, the NEPC issued export credit certificates to exporters for the 2017 EEG but at the time, only 17 per cent of the amount had been approved using those export credit certificates.
“The balance of 83 per cent is yet to be paid. We are engaging both the export promotion council and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment on their plans to pay the 2017 plus the 2018 and 2019 claims that are completely outstanding.”
Speaking on the volume of export, he stated that the closure of border had affected trade between Nigeria and neighboring countries, leading to a decline in the export of non-oil products.
