By Sani Idris

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), on Tuesday sensitizes exporters on the imperative of trade agreements for market access in international trade relations.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sensitization workshop was organized by the council in collaboration with the Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industry Mines and Agriculture (KADCCIMA).

Delivering a presentation on "ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme’’, Kaduna NEPC Smart Office Coordinator, Alhaji Kasim Yahaya, said the workshop was organized to sensitize and create awareness on trade advantages to exporters of goods and enormous benefits to the state's economy.

He said that the workshop was also aimed to enlighten exporters on the challenge of market access through the trade agreements windows.

Yahaya said that Nigeria has major trade agreements under African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) that has been in existence since May 2002 , lasting up to the end of 2025.

He said that exporters could also leverage on the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS), established in 1979 and the African continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreements, established in 2018 for market access.

Yahaya said that the economic cooperation among nations has become dominant factor in contemporary international relations with countries increasingly pursuing economic prosperity through bilateral and multilateral networks.

According to him, if ECOWAS is to live up to its expectations, the economic trade liberalization scheme must be implemented aggressively.

He however , said that the participants would gain more knowledge at the end of the workshop especially in the area exports and trade agreements in international market.

He reiterated the council’s commitment to create a world market for Nigeria non-oil export products.

Earlier, the President of KADCCIMA, Alhaji Sulaiman Aliyu, said the capacity building was part of this years’ chambers programmes.

He said that the Chamber has considered non-oil export as a game changer in the nation’s economy.

"It is priority area of the current administration to diversify the economy from over reliance on oil as the main revenue earner," he said

Some producers and exporters who spoke at the workshop urged the NEPC and other relevant stakeholders in the export sector to provide enabling environment for exporters to thrive in their businesses.

They called on the Government to minimize cost of export and set standard for the activity. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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News Local

DSS says Tukur Mamu was going to meet foreign terrorist leaders when he was arrested

BAYO WAHAB

September 14, 2022 12:13 PM

The DSS says its investigations have shown that Mamu is a terror sponsor.

Tukur Mamu (TheNation)

The Department of State Services (DSS) has told a Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja that hostage negotiator, Tukur Mamu, is a terror financier.

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The DSS in an affidavit in support of its ex-parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1617/2022 and filed before the court, also told the court that Mamu a logistic supplier to both local and foreign terror groups.

The service disclosed that the bandit negotiator was on his way to a meeting with foreign terrorist leaders before his interception last week.

Mamu had been leading the negotiation with bandits for the release of the Abuja-Kaduna train passengers the terrorists kidnapped in March.

The terrorist negotiator was arrested on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, with his two wives at Cairo International Airport while awaiting a connecting flight to Saudi Arabia for lesser Hajj.

They were thereafter deported to Nigeria and the DSS operatives picked them up on arrival at the Aminu Kano International Airport.

Following his arrest, the DSS raided his residence where military uniforms and a large stash of foreign currencies and denominations were allegedly found.

The DSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya described the items found in Mamu’s house as incriminating materials.

He said, “So far, appropriate security agencies have executed valid search warrants on Mamu’s residence and office. During the processes, incriminating materials including military accoutrements were recovered.

”Other items include large amounts in different currencies and denominations as well as financial transaction instruments. While further investigations continue, Mamu will, sure, have a day in court.”

Mamu is the Publisher of Desert Herald Newspaper in Kaduna.