NAHCO, NACCIMA Move to Boost Non-Oil Exports
Photo Caption
L-R: Chairman, NACCIMA Export Group, Barr. Kola Awe; Ag. DC, NAHCO Warehouse, Asst. Comptroller of Customs, Yusuf Tukur; Director–General, NACCIMA, Engr. Sola Obadimu; Group Executive Director, CBD, NAHCO Plc, Prince Saheed Lasisi; Produce Officer 1, Federal Produce Inspection Office, Mrs. Unyime John Akpan; CEO, Petlizzy Global Limited, Mrs. Elizabeth Ajayi and Senior Produce Officer, Mr Donald Chigozie at the NAHCO/NACCIMA SME Export Engagement & Capacity Building Forum which held on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, in Lagos
The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO Aviance), in collaboration with the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s non-oil export sector through air cargo logistics.
This assurance was given on Tuesday in Lagos at a capacity-building forum on export processing for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs), aimed at preparing local businesses for participation in international markets.
Speaking at the event, the Group Executive Director, Business & Business Development, NAHCO Plc, Prince Saheed Lasisi, said the company is aligning its operations with the Federal Government’s vision of building a one trillion-dollar economy by 2030, noting that commodity exports remain central to achieving this goal.
“A major focus of the government in achieving this vision is commodity exports, and to record the needed volume, SMEs must be actively involved,” Lasisi said. He stressed that NAHCO recognises the crucial role SMEs play in national development and is committed to building their export capacity.
According to him, exporting agro products and commodities requires a strong logistics and handling backbone, adding that NAHCO sits at the centre of the export value chain as a link between exporters, airlines and regulatory agencies.
He explained that NAHCO provides guidance on cargo handling, quality preservation, regulatory compliance, timely flight connections and meeting international buyer requirements.
Lasisi also highlighted the company’s specialized infrastructure for exports, noting that NAHCO operates the Export Packaging and Processing Centre (NEPPC) within the airport environment, with approval from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
“The NEPPC is the only facility of its kind in Nigeria and commenced operations in July last year. We also operate an Export Desk dedicated to supporting exporters,” he said.
In his presentation, Chairman of the NACCIMA Export Group, Kola Awe Esq, said the association has established the NACCIMA Export Support Centre to help Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) overcome export-related challenges.
He noted that while multinationals have the financial capacity to scale exports, many MSMEs struggle due to limited resources.
Awe disclosed that Nigeria has an estimated 39.6 million MSMEs, which contribute significantly to the economy, particularly in agriculture, retail and manufacturing.
He described the Export Support Centre as a practical intervention to enhance SME participation in global trade.
Welcoming participants, NACCIMA Director General, Engr. Sola Obadimu, said the collaboration with NAHCO underscores the importance of private-sector partnerships in driving agro-export growth. He observed that although MSMEs account for about 80–90 per cent of businesses and employ over 80 per cent of the workforce, their contribution to exports remains disproportionately low.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of Polaris Bank, represented by the Head of Commercial Banking, Mrs. Ladi Ene Garba, emphasized the urgency of expanding non-oil exports, noting that crude oil still accounts for about 90 per cent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings. She said strengthening non-oil exports is critical to reducing economic vulnerability and pledged the bank’s continued support for SMEs.
The event featured contributions from industry stakeholders, airlines, logistics firms and key regulatory agencies, including Customs, NAFDAC, NAQS, NEPC and FAAN, reinforcing a shared commitment to unlocking Nigeria’s export potential through air logistics.
