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By Kenneth Jukpor
The concessionaire of the Lagos International Trade Fair and Managers of the Nigerian Export Trade Hub (NETH), Aulic Group has stated that the NETH Project which has just taken off with exports, is an initiative to empower young industrious Nigerians.
The Chairman of Aulic Group, Prof. Nick Ezeh stated this during an exclusive chat with MMS Plus newspaper after a recent stakeholders summit at the facility which was attended by delegates from the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Exporters Association, National Office of Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), Freight Forwarders, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), commercial banks, among others.
“This project isn’t about retirees but for young people who are ready to work under the rain or sun. It is for those who want to think. Young Nigerians have this platform to come out with their great ideas and NOTAP is there to polish and package these products or technology for export” Prof. Nick said.
He stressed that countries like India have moved to export more technology other than raw materials, noting that NETH hopes to replicate the same in Nigeria because ICT is the next destination for the world.
He said; “For everything at NETH, we would have about 50% ICT involvement and 50% practical involvement. What we have today is to show the ease of doing business. We intend to have all agencies of government in a one-stop shop to ensure that people don’t have to move from one place to another to consult or make payment to one government agency or another”
When quizzed on the fiscal value of the NETH project, Prof. said that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which heads the finance committee of the project, were yet to develop the monetary value of NETH. However, he expressed optimism that the funds required for the project would be available when needed.
“We are reaching out to everybody with regards the aspect of funding but you should know that wealth is first in the head. Until you can conceptualize the money in your brain, you wouldn’t be able to know where to get the money. It is difficult to have institutions in this part of the world that would volunteer to support projects like NETH. However, when you have a good thing like NETH, you believe that the money would come.” Prof Nick explained.
Prof Nick encouraged Nigerians to bring their products for testing prior to export, even as showed the visiting delegates samples of dried kolanut, castrol seed, locust beans seed, millet, dried hibiscus flower, among other items that have been tested at the facility which is also a hub to link producers to buyers.
He also revealed that nations like Belarus and Germany have partnered with NETH to exhibit their products which include farm machinery, building tiles, marbles, wrist watches, toys, etc.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) Comptroller Lami Wushishi highlighted the NETH project as noteworthy, as it had been discussed in several management meetings with the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd).
Comptroller Wushishi stressed that NETH was a public-private partnership project that was crucial to the development of the Nigerian economy. She expressed satisfaction that the various government agencies and private sector associations have endorsed the project after visiting the site of the project.
“I thank the private partners and government agencies for their contributions so far and acceptance of the various spaces given to them as office at the NETH complex. KLT Command and Aulic Bonded Terminal is ready for export”, she said.
She maintained that NETH would redefine export business in Nigeria and the sub-Saharan Africa at large.
CAC Wushishi concluded with special praise for the former Kirikiri CAC, Compt. Benjamin Aber, “I want to congratulate the former CAC Aber, who has been promoted, for his efforts in developing the NETH project so far.”
