Nigerian Export Promotion Council
The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) was established through the promulgation of the “Nigerian Export Promotion Council Decree No. 26 of 1976”, now an Act in line with the democratic governance of the Country.
This Act was amended by Decree No. 72 of 1979 and further amended by the Nigerian Export Promotion Decree No. 41 of 1988 and complemented by the Export (Incentives and Miscellaneous Provisions) Decree No. 18 of 1986.
Furthermore, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (Amendment) Decree No. 64 and 65 of 1992 was promulgated to enhance the performance of the Council.
The Council is the leading Federal Government Agency charged with the responsibility of promoting non-oil export in Nigeria to diversify away from oil and build a formidable economy.
History
The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) was established through the promulgation of the Nigerian Export Promotion Decree No. 26 of 1976, and was formally implemented in March 1977. The act was amended by Decree No. 72 of 1979 and further amended by the Nigerian Export Promotion Decree No. 41 of 1988. Appended to the law was the Export (Incentives and Miscellaneous Provisions) Decree No. 18 of 1986, as well as the Nigerian Export Promotion Council Amendment Decree No. 64 of 1992.
The last was authored to enhance the performance of the council by minimizing bureaucratic bottlenecks and increasing autonomy in dealing with members of the organised private sector. The Council has a governing board drawn from both the Public and private sectors.
Mission and functions
To promote non-oil exports as the key driver of the Nigerian economy. Position the export market as the growth opportunity of choice for private sector earnings and sustainable economic development. Functions of the council:
- To promote the development and diversification of Nigeria’s export trade.
- To assist in promoting the development of export related industries in Nigeria.
- To spearhead the creation of appropriate export incentives and
- To actively articulate and to promote the implementation of export policies and programmes of the Nigerian Government.
- To co-ordinate and monitor export promotion activities in Nigeria.
- To collect and disseminate of information on products available for export.
- To collect and disseminate to local manufacturers and exporters information on foreign markets.
- To Provide technical assistance to local exporters in such areas as export procedures and documentation, transportation, financing, marketing techniques, quality control, export packaging, costing and pricing, publicity and in other similar areas.
- To maintain adequate and effective representation in other countries.
- To provide, directly or jointly, with training institutions, training for its staff and assist with the manpower development of the export community in Nigeria.
- To organize and plan the participation of Nigeria in trade fairs and exhibitions.
- To administer grants and other benefits related to export promotion and development.
- To undertake studies of the current economic conditions, with special attention to the export sector with the aim of advising government on necessary policies and measures.
- To establish specific trade promotion facilities in Nigeria and in other countries including the establishment of permanent showrooms at important commercial centers in other countries.
- To engage in export promotion publicity
- To pursue the simplification and streamline of export procedures and documentation on continuous basis.
- To assist in finding appropriate solutions to practical problems encountered by exporters in the process of exportation.
- To plan and organize outward trade missions and provide support from Nigeria.
- To perform such other functions as maybe conducive to the achievement of the objective of the Export Decrees.
Structure
The administration of the Council was structured in the following regard: The Board- Consist of the Chairman and ten members. The Council is headed by an Executive Director/CEO while the Departments and Directorates are each headed by a Director/Deputy Director. NEPC Management-Consist of the Executive Director/CEO, while Directors /Deputy Director as Heads of Departments/Directorates. Zonal Controllers are the administrative head of zonal offices.
The Directorates are:
- Special Services Directorate
- Incentives Directorate
- Multilateral and Bilateral Directorate
The Units are:
- Legal Services UnitEconomy of Nigeria
- Audit Unit
- Public Relations Unit
- Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU)
The Council has fifteen (15) zonal offices located at Aba, Akure, Benin, Enugu, Gusau, Jos, Kano, Lagos, Maiduguri, Makurdi, Minna, Owerri, Port-Harcourt, Uyo, Yola; while Lagos, Kano and Port-Harcourt serve as Area Offices for easy co-ordination of the activities of the Zonal Offices.