Lagos:Stakeholders in Nigeria’s export sector have urged for enhanced incentives and increased value addition to bolster the competitiveness of manufacturers in international markets. This appeal was made during the ninth Annual General Meeting of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Export Promotion Group (MANEG) held in Lagos.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the event, themed ‘Unlocking Nigeria’s Manufacturing Export Performance Through Tackling Cost, Logistics as Competitiveness Constraints,’ highlighted the importance of value addition for Nigerian exporters to secure premium prices in the global market. Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, emphasized that Nigeria achieved its highest-ever non-oil export performance in 2025, with exports valued at $6.1 billion and a volume of 8.02 million metric tonnes.
Ayeni stressed the necessity of moving beyond raw commodity exports by enhancing value addition, backward integration, and production. She noted that value addition enables exporters to maximize their efforts and investments by obtaining premium pricing in the global market.
Mrs. Ruth Owojaiye, Chairman of MANEG, pointed out that settling outstanding Export Expansion Grant (EEG) claims would allow exporters to reinvest in their businesses, reducing production costs. She highlighted the challenges manufacturers face, such as high interest rates, energy and logistics costs, and poor infrastructure, which undermine the competitiveness of Nigerian products. Owojaiye urged the Federal Government to clear outstanding EEG claims to provide manufacturers with resources to strengthen their businesses.
Trade facilitation expert Mr. Kola Awe noted that the high cost of operations in Nigeria makes it challenging for manufacturers to compete with countries with lower infrastructure, financing, and logistics costs. Awe emphasized that logistics contribute significantly to export costs, while high interest rates and infrastructure deficiencies further burden manufacturers. He advocated for export incentives like the EEG to mitigate these cost disadvantages.
Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, called for clearing the EEG backlog and reviewing the scheme for greater effectiveness. He argued that the grant is essential for cushioning the impact of operating in a high-cost environment and enabling market penetration for Nigerian manufacturers.
Ajayi-Kadir also encouraged manufacturers to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and other trade initiatives to expand Nigeria’s international market presence, creating jobs and attracting investment into export-oriented manufacturing.