Nigeria: Provide us warehouse in US, AGOA food exporters task Fed Government
Exporters of food products have called on the Federal Government to assist in providing enabling environment for easy export to the United States under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
The exporters bared their minds at a recent Stakeholder’s roundtable meeting held at the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Apapa, Lagos.
Organised by the AGOA Trade Resource Center (ATRC), the meeting featured Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Certified and licensed exporters during which participants exchanged ideas on best practices in the food export sector.
Regional Coordinator of the NEPC (South West), Mr. Babatunde Faleke at the event noted that the objective of the meeting was to interact with the exporters and to know why they have not appreciably exported Nigerian foods to the US under AGOA despite their certification.
According to Faleke, “the meeting was with the view to proffering solutions to the already known market access challenges and other challenges as will be informed by you participants”.
“We have to do things right. NEPC is committed to ensuring performance of exporters in a formal and ideal way, hence this roundtable meeting. Importantly, we want Nigerian exporters to participate in the forthcoming Food Show at Miami, in the US.” He also informed of the important role of the Nigerian American-Air-Sea Cargo, owner of shoptomydoor, in products shipment and sales in the US, and the need for exporters to network with the Company.
“In the past, export of food, particularly shrimps to the US was high, now there is a ban on export of Nigerian fish to the US until the needful is done by the appropriate authority. Hence the need to re-strategise, Faleke said.”
Speaking at the meeting, Managing Partner, Treyb Associate, an expert in FDA certification and related issues on trade to the US, Mr. David Aderibigbe, emphasised the importance of the FDA certification.
Aderibigbe who is also aware some back door food exports originates from Nigeria, told participants the danger in informal export. “The penalty of back door export can be grave. If your goods get to the USA and it is not on their list, if it is not much, they may categorise it as your personal goods but if it is in large volume and you don’t go through the normal process, it may not be allowed in to the US,” he explained.
The FDA expert however enumerated the processes involved in obtaining the FDA certification. “A visit to the factory is mandatory; the process begins when the applicant responds to a prototype questionnaire and product(s) analysis which will be reviewed.”
“After that, our agent in the US concludes registration and certification to hasten issuance of the Food Facility Registration Number which will be release to exporters for display on all their food package(s) to the US. When they would want to finally export we would also be involved, we have to notify the US Custom Boarder Protection to notify them that so and so product is coming to the US.
“We have to tell them the product code and quantity and communicate same to the FDA office before food departs Nigeria, they would now reply and give a cover note for all the products which the company would have to take along or send to their agent in the US, it is with that sheet they would clear the goods at the US end.” He added that about $700 is charged, but it could come down to about $500 because of the collaboration with the NEPC,” he explained.
Dr. Jide Adedeji, MD/CEO Obe Sause, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, is a manufacturer of Tomato Paste, Obe Sauce. He informed that he has not exported before but working on the processes to ensure itch-free export to the US.
Read related news articles
Kenya shows Nigeria’s missed textile, apparel export opportunities with AGOA
Duty- and quota-free access to the United States of America’s market granted by the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) has played a significant role in boosting trade and investment between sub-Saharan Africa and the US. Many qualifying African countries have achieved notable successes in exporting goods under Agoa to the US. These successes include textiles and apparel from Kenya, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Lesotho, Ghana, and...
03 April 2024
'Nigeria missing as Kenya, Ghana tap AGOA opportunities to boost foreign exchange earnings'
Africa’s biggest economy is still failing to tap the opportunities that the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) present to boost its foreign exchange, amid acute dollar shortages. The AGOA has been on for over twenty-three years as it was enacted in 2020. In 2015, the program was modernised and extended to 2025, implying that there are only about 15 months before the window closes. Some countries have taken advantage of the AGOA more...
05 February 2024
US treasury Deputy Secretary Adeyemo visits Lagos, discusses duty-free access to the US market with local entrepreneurs
Nigerian-born United States Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, Wally Adeyemo, will be in Lagos, Nigeria between September 17 – 19, 2023, for a number of diplomatic engagements including a meeting with entrepreneurs and start-ups to discuss how they can sell their products by exploring “duty-free access” to the US market. Duty-free access is the permission given by a host country for another country to export goods into their country...
18 September 2023
Nigeria: US to 'create jobs for Africans through trade, investments in tech, infrastructure'
The United States government has expressed its willingness to create jobs through increased trade and investment in sectors such as agriculture, technology and infrastructure, as well as boost innovation and elevate the living standards of millions of Africans. The U.S. Consul General, Will Stevens, disclosed this at the Africa Social Impact Summit 2023, themed: “Global Vision, Local Action: Repositioning the African...
10 August 2023
AGOA: Nigeria’s untapped opportunity for non-oil export, rights enforcement
IN 2000, President Bill Clinton’s administration passed special trade laws to promote trade ties between the US, Africa, and the Caribbean. One of the enactments was the African Growth and Opportunity Act, AGOA. To be eligible to access the benefits of the Act, participating countries are required to meet certain criteria set by the US government. Among the long list of requirements is the adherence to international human rights...
23 May 2023
Take advantage of AGOA to boost exports, Minister urges Nigerians
The Nigerian Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), Adeniyi Adebayo has urged Nigerians to take advantage of the African Growth Opportunity Act, (AGOA). Adebayo said this when he received the report of the Technical Committee on the utilization of AGOA in Abuja on Tuesday. The report which was delivered by the Co-chairman of the Committee and Director of Trade, FMITI Suleiman Audu on behalf of the Chairman of the Committee and...
02 May 2023
Nigeria: Garment factory to create 2,000 direct jobs, utilize AGOA
Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, at the weekend, said the state’s garment factory will be inaugurated this year with a take off capacity to hire 2,000 direct labour. Speaking with dozens of APC youths, progressive social media influencers, and some online news publishers on Saturday, the governor said the idea is to make Kwara a hub for garment production, which can then benefit from the African Growth and Opportunity Act...
26 August 2022
Nigeria: US-American chamber seeks shippers’ nod to boost non-oil exports
The Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) has sought partnership with Nigerian shippers to maximally utilise the United States’ African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). AGOA is a key component of US/African strategy that focuses on increasing African non-oil exports to the US. The Executive Secretary of the Abuja chapter of NACC, Ayo Salaam, disclosed that Nigerian companies had not taken advantage of AGOA because they exported...
12 June 2022
Nigerian shippers urged to take advantage of second chance of AGOA
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian – American Chamber of Commerce (NACC), Mr. Ayo Salam has urged Nigerian exporters, in particular, shippers to take advantage of the second window of opportunities by African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) which lapses in September 2025 to advance trade and export with the United States of America. This is as he promised to assist Nigerian exporters and shoppers leverage on the 6500 export items...
09 June 2022
Nigeria, US to leverage AGOA for improved trade ties
The United States of America (USA) Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, has disclosed that Nigeria will continue to be eligible for preferential trade access to the US market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Leonard, during a visit to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo, said Nigeria became eligible after a review of the criteria set by the US Congress under AGOA. According to her, the...
01 June 2022
AGOA to stimulate Nigeria’s economic growth – NEPC
The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has called on exporters to take advantage of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to stimulate the country’s economic growth. NEPC Executive Director and Chief Executive Director, Dr Ezra Yakusak, said this at a sensitisation workshop on eligibility criteria and documentation for AGOA organised by the Council in Owerri on Monday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the AGOA is...
07 February 2022