By Durven N.
In a concerted effort to enhance non-oil exports from Benue State, the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has joined forces with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and other stakeholders under the State Committee on Export Promotion (SCEP) to tackle key challenges facing exporters.
The quarterly SCEP meeting, held at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment Conference Hall in Makurdi, brought together critical players across the export value chain, including financial institutions, processors, investors, and representatives from relevant government agencies.
In his opening remarks, Nigeria Export Promotion Commission State Coordinator, Mr Friday Ogiri, emphasized the need for economic diversification and criticized the country’s continued over-reliance on oil exports. He highlighted the state’s progress under the “One State, One Product” (OSOP) initiative, with sesame and soybean identified as key export crops. He also announced the establishment of sub-committees focusing on implementation, production, value chain, and coordination to accelerate the SCEP’s goals.
However, Ogiri noted several critical challenges facing exporters, including limited access to funding and the burden of multiple taxation. He revealed that only one exporter had benefited from a N2 billion NEXIM Bank loan due to stringent collateral requirements such as Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) and bank guarantees.
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Speaking at the event, Senior Scientific Officer at the RMRDC, Engr. Durven N. S. urged the committee to prioritize value addition before export. “The era of raw material export without value addition is over,” he stated, citing ongoing legislative efforts requiring 30% value addition before export. He referenced the success of Pure Bio-Tech Company Ltd, which processes cassava into ethanol, as a model for local value-driven initiatives.
He emphasized the importance of value addition as a critical component in the export process. He stated that Benue State is endowed with vast agricultural and mineral resources, but for the state to compete effectively in global markets, it must move beyond raw commodity exports. The key to this transformation is value addition – processing agricultural products, enhancing mineral extraction methods, and creating finished goods that can attract higher market value.
The meeting was chaired by the new Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. James Omale Agbo. Mr Agbo Acknowledging lapses in regular meetings, Agbo called for consistency in stakeholder participation and stressed the potential economic gains for the state through export-led growth. “Benue State can generate significant revenue from non-oil exports if we remain committed to our responsibilities,” he said.
Regional Head of NEXIM Bank, Mr. Emmanuel Adache and Mr. Adah Oche Emmanuel, Branch Manager in Makurdi, reiterated the need for a more supportive policy environment to help exporters access financial services. They urged the state government to address bureaucratic barriers such as lack of land titles and overlapping taxes.
The meeting ended with a shared commitment from all stakeholders to improve coordination and implement actionable steps toward transforming Benue into a viable export hub.
