Indeed, the council stated that
informal activities are usually not captured in the process of computing Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) numbers, but stated the potential of the sector is huge
and a very important aspect in Nigeria’s export drives.
The Regional Coordinator, NEPC, Babatunde Faleke, stated this at a
press briefing in Lagos when he received traders from ECOWAS Park in Lagos. He
said: “This is an engagement with the informal sector
because they are very important in our export drive. If you go to ECOWAS
countries you will see this sector engaging in voluminous trade worth millions
of naira. We need data from them to prove that export is really taking place
because most of what they do is export. It is very important to engage them to
have this record so that we know where the government can come in and support
them to do better to formalise the informal sector.
“The benefit of this would
help us to see how can generate data, the volume of trade and see how we can
capture the product lines being exported. We believe that if we have data, we
can plan ahead to improve trade activities between Nigeria and its neighbouring
countries.”
Faleke also unveiled plans to empower
the traders with workable tools such as laptops in a bid to help them generate
data seamlessly, adding that the council would also act as an advocacy group on
behalf of the traders to interface with the federal government to ease the
business community.
The head of the delegation, ECOWAS
Park, Ebute Ero, Idumota, Adewale
Abdulsalam, lauded the council for the initiative, saying that this would
expose the informal sector to better opportunities.
He said, “The
NEPC has stated plans to enlighten us to see how we can improve the trade
between Nigeria and other countries in Africa. The export market is currently
informal where have succeeded in capturing the informal sectors of these
African countries, we are now dealing with the multinationals.
“Nigeria stands to gain a lot
because it will help to generate data to measure the volume of trade we do with
our ECOWAS neighbours where the government can plan to seek ways on how to
assist and encourage. We also act as facilitators to ensure that what goes out
of the Nigerian market is of good standard in order to protect the image of the
country. This will also let other countries in the continent know that Nigeria
remains the biggest business hub in Africa.” (Guardian)
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