The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has established an Export Express Support Centre as a practical intervention to simplify export processes and provide direct support to businesses.
Chairman of the NACCIMA Export Group, Kola Awe, said that the initiative was driven by the need to improve export performance, noting that only a small fraction of registered exporters accounts for a significant share of the country’s export value.
“Located at its secretariat in Ikeja, Lagos, the centre is built on knowledge, training, innovation and support. We are not charging anybody for knowledge. It is a platform for exporters to get the information and assistance they need,” he said.
Awe noted that despite the size of Nigeria’s population, export participation remains weak, stressing that the non-oil export sector holds the strongest potential to stabilise the economy if properly developed.
“The export sector is very complex. You are dealing with different international laws and multiple regulatory requirements. For a single transaction, you engage with about six or seven, close to ten agencies,” he said.
He added that the difficulties often lead to failed transactions, discouraging first-time exporters from returning.“When there is complexity and difficulty, what happens is a shortcut. A shortcut leads to rejection. That is why many try once and never want to try again,” Awe said.
Awe emphasised that the centre would go beyond advisory by offering hands-on support to resolve issues related to logistics, documentation, procurement and regulatory compliance.
NACCIMA National President, Dr Jani Ibrahim, said that the centre was designed as a one-stop hub to guide exporters and strengthen their capacity to compete in regional and global markets.
“It will serve as a one-stop hub providing guidance, tools and technical support to exporters, helping them navigate documentation, meet standards and access new markets with confidence,” he said.
