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AFREXIM Woos Nigerian Banks On Projects Financing

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African Expert, Import Bank (Afrexim Bank) has sought collaboration with the public and private investors in the country to promote and finance viable trade and project that would contribute to the diversification of Nigeria’s economy and exports for the economic growth.
Mr. Jean Ekra, president of Afexim Bank, said since Africa’s current share of world exports accounts for about 2 per cent of global trade, there is need to diversify its economies and exports away from the production and export of primary commodities.
Speaking at the 2009 annual lecture of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), he said, a larger part of Africa’s poor trade performance has been traced to economic concentration and limited diversification.
“Available data confirm that trade and economic diversification were key to the rapid economic development achieved by the newly industralised countries in East Asia. Afrexim bank, in recognition of the invaluable contribution that economic trade diversification could make towards better trade and economic growth performance of African economies, deems it an honourable duty to contribute toward expansion of direct and indirect infrastructure needed to diversify African economies and export of primary commodities”, he said.
Ekra noted that in many African countries, production of export commodities constitutes the main form of activity and driver of GDP growth adding that the case is particularly strong for those economies dependent on one or two export commodities, such as oil and gas in Nigeria, Libya, Gabon and Equitorial Guinea, Cotton in Mali, and tea and coffee Kenya and Uganda.
Analysing transformation of an underdeveloped economy, he said, price movements of internationally traded goods, and the consequent variations in volume and product composition of trade, adding that these gains are traditionally measured by the terms of trade and the purchasing power of its exports which is defined as the export deflated by imports.
According to him, the issue of economic and trade diversification in Africa always climb on the top of the economic policy agenda whenever African economies are impacted by exported commodity price volatilities and their knocked-on effect on Africa’s economic trade performances.
He explained that Afrexim bank has been providing its Special Risk Programme as a comfort to non-African international banks and investors engaged in the business of financing trade and projects investments in Africa, especially those with the potential to contribute to economic trade diversification in the continent.
Under this programme, the bank, working as a facilitator and partner, shares and risks associated with African Project deals with African and non-African export credit agencies, and insurance companies that provide financial services to entities active in the business of exporting essential capital goods and services to Africa. Specifically under this programme, the bank guarantees international banks and non-African investors promoting projects in Africa, as well as those with credit exposures to African counterparts against certain country risk events,” he said.

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USTR Criticises Nigeria’s Import Ban On Agriculture, Others

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The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has criticised Nigeria’s import ban on 25 categories of goods, claiming that the restrictions limit market access for American exporters.
This is the effect of President Donald Trump’s tariffs introduction on goods entering the United States, with Nigeria facing a 14 per cent duty.
The USTR highlighted the impact of Nigeria’s import ban on various sectors, particularly agriculture, pharmaceuticals, beverages, and consumer goods.
The restrictions affect items such as beef, pork, poultry, fruit juices, medicaments, and alcoholic beverages, which the United States sees as significant barriers to trade.
The agency argues that these limitations reduce export opportunities for United States businesses and lead to lost revenue.
“Nigeria’s import ban on 25 different product categories impacts United States exporters, particularly in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, beverages, and consumer goods.
“Restrictions on items like beef, pork, poultry, fruit juices, medicaments, and spirits limit United States market access and reduce export opportunities.
“These policies create significant trade barriers that lead to lost revenue for United States businesses looking to expand in the Nigerian market”, the agency said .
In 2016, Nigeria implemented the ban on these 25 items as part of efforts to control imports and stimulate local production.
Some of the banned items include poultry, pork, refined vegetable oil, sugar, cocoa products, spaghetti, beer, and certain medicines.
On March 26, 2025, the  Federal Government also announced plans to halt solar panel imports to encourage local manufacturing as part of its push for clean energy.

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Expert Seeks Cooperative-Driven Investments In Agriculture 

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A leading agribusiness strategist and digital agriculture expert, Ayo Oluwa Okediji, has sought cooperative-driven investments in sustaining growth of poultry industry in Nigeria.
He said the poultry industry was at a defining moment and requires urgent structural reforms to secure its future and ensure long-term sustainability.
Speaking on the theme, “Strengthening Poultry Farming Through Cooperative Synergy and Strategic Investments”, at the recently concluded Oyo Mega Poultry Workshop 2025 in Ibadan, Okediji called on poultry farmers, cooperative leaders, financial institutions and policy makers to rethink the existing structure of the poultry sector.
He stressed the need to transition from fragmented, individually-driven operations to well-structured, cooperative-led enterprises capable of attracting sustainable financing and securing long-term viability.
He said, “Our poultry sector cannot thrive on individual effort alone. We need to organise ourselves into cooperative clusters, build strong governance systems and position ourselves to attract the level of investment needed to sustain this industry beyond this generation.”
Drawing on lessons from successful global cooperative models such as Rabobank in the Netherlands and Landus Cooperative in the United States, Okediji introduced the FarmClusters Poultry Model, a locally adapted solution developed by Agribusiness Dynamics Technology Limited (AgDyna), a subsidiary of AgroInfoTech Africa.
According to him, the model is currently being piloted in Oyo State in partnership with PANOY Agribusiness Limited and local poultry cooperatives.

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NACCIMA Proposes Hybrid Oil Palm Seedlings For Farmers

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The Rivers State Representative of the Nigeria Chambers of Commerce, Mines, Industries and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Mr. Erasmus Chukwundah, has urged palm oil farmers to consider hybrid seedlings for planting, if they must break even in palm oil business.
Chukwundah said this recently at the Free Oil Palm Business Climate Smart Best Management Practice/Assistance Training organized by Partnership Initiative In Niger Delta (PIND) for Palm Oil Farmers in Elele, Ikwerre Local Government Area.
The Rivers representative said until palm oil farmers begin to consider such hybrid oil palm seedlings, they may not meet up with the daily increasing demand of palm oil in the market.
According to him, the seedlings produce up to 30 bunches at once that ripen same time.
He said PIND decided to partner with Oil Palm Growers Association of Nigeria (OPGAN) to ensure that the message was received by the targeted audience.
According to him, palm oil remained a popular choice of industry operators as it could be converted to many other products such as vegetable cooking oil.
He also noted that products such as motor tyers, marine ropes and others are now gotten from the palm tree.
Chukwundah, who is the immediate past Director-General of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Mines, Industries, and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), further warned against use of unrecommended fertilisers in growing oil palms.
He noted that such practices could limit its export value or chances as the foreign marketers have a way of detecting such .
He reiterated the need for organic fertilizers, including poultry droppings, to enable them have a natural palm oil.
“People must reduce physical contact with palm oil production. That is why we are campaigning for hydrolic oil mills. The foreign markets are no longer interested in crude method of palm oil production”, he said.
Meanwhile, one of the farmers, Sonny Didia, who appreciated Chukwundah’s commitment towards the concern of farmers, appealed for an urgent need for loan opportunity with low interest rate in order to enable them beat the target.

King Onunwor

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