The Nigerian Export Promotion Council has revealed that the country’s total exports value for the first half of 2024 stood at $2.7 billion representing 2.6 percent growth when compared to the value reported in the similar period of 2023.
Executive Director, NEPC, Nonye Ayeni who disclosed this in Abuja on Wednesday stated that 211 products were exported during the period under review.
She identified the products that top the export list in the period to include cocoa beans, urea and sesame.
Ayeni also disclosed that the three top export destinations were Malaysia, Netherlands and Brazil.
The report confirmed similar data released by the National Bureau of Statistics recently which showed that exports of agricultural goods from Nigeria to other countries increased by 123 per cent over the value recorded in the fourth quarter of 2023 (₦463.97 billion), and also by 270 percent when compared to the value recorded in Q1, 2023 (₦279.64 billion).
According to the NBS, most of the agricultural products were exported to Asia, valued at ₦572 billion, followed by exports to Europe with ₦366 billion.
The report added that export of agricultural products was dominated by sesame seeds valued at ₦247.75 billion, superior quality cocoa beans with ₦231 billion and standard quality cocoa beans with₦140 billion.
NCDMB, SON, NAQS, top PEBEC 2024 half year efficiency compliance report
Also, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council has announced the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board as the best performing agency of the Federal Government in the first half of the 2024 year.
This was contained in PEBEC’s 2024 Half Year Transparency and Efficiency Compliance Report released in Abuja. The report which evaluated the performance of the government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) during the period said the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) came second while the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) followed.
Details of the performance report show that the NCDMB topped the chart scoring 80.1 percent followed by the SON with 78.2 percent, and the NAQS which scored 74.8 percent.
According to the report, the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) secured the fourth and fifth positions, scoring 73.9 percent, and 73.2 percent, respectively.
Addressing a news conference in Abuja, the Special adviser to the President on PEBEC and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, said the report also assesses MDAs’ performance based on Efficiency (70 percent) and Transparency (30 percent) measures.
Efficiency evaluates adherence to service level agreements, costs, and procedures, while Transparency assesses the publishing of standardized procedures, timeliness, and customer service contact details on MDAs’ websites and digital media channels.
She urged MDAs to leverage the report to improve the experience of Nigerian citizens and pioneer new initiatives for transparency and efficiency in public service delivery.
The report highlights the importance of the 90-day Regulatory Reform Accelerator in driving MDA performance and notes that consistent reporting by MDAs is crucial for effective reform implementation.
While commenting on the report, SON said being among the top five performing agencies is commendable.
“We’re committed to maintaining the highest standards in delivering timely, cost-effective, and customer-focused services, in line with the Business Facilitation Act (BFA) of 2022,” the agency stated.
