Experts Identify Factors Militating Cargo Export From Nigeria

Experts have identified lack of proper packaging, documentation, incident reporting and secure transportation as some of the factors militating cargo export from Nigeria.

They also said that lack of goods integrity and the failure of exporters to adopt best practices in all aspects of cargo care, through the intermodal supply chain are some of the reasons Nigerian cargos are rejected outside the country.

Various speakers in aviation, cargo business and insurance at the fourth CHINET Aviacargo Conference with the theme: ‘e-Commerce and the Future of Air Cargo in Africa: The Building Blocks,’ held in Lagos on Thursday, said that Nigeria was not ready and willing to play in the air cargo space.

Some regretted that while the country holds the raw materials, it however jettisoned the air and water spaces to foreign companies, thereby allowing them to dictate the market.

Mrs. Nkechi Onyenso, Managing Director, Pathfinders International Limited, in her presentation: ‘Steps To Guarantee Integrity Of Cargo In Nigeria,’ said that cargo integrity goes beyond simply making sure everything was delivered safely, on time and undamaged.

Onyenso pointed out that cargo integrity was all about ensuring the supply chain remained untainted, while all business was conducted in a transparent and honest manner.

She emphasised that packaging for instance, plays a vital role in maintaining the integrity of cargo in Nigeria’s logistics and supply chain industry.

She added: “By implementing effective incident reporting mechanisms, Nigeria’s cargo industry can identify and address vulnerabilities, improving the integrity and security of cargo throughout the supply chain.”

Also, Mr Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, the Commissioner for National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), debunked the insinuations that insurance companies in Nigeria lacked capacity to successfully insure aviation business, especially aircraft acquisition.

According to him, there were no fewer than 29 aviation underwriters in Nigeria regulated by NAICOM in compliance with the regulations of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).