NEPC and NBS Ink Pact for Enhanced Data Capture

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have entered into an agreement through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at streamlining data gathering related to Informal Cross Border Trade.

At the signing ceremony conducted in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, Nonye Ayeni, who serves as the executive director and CEO of NEPC, highlighted during the event that this momentous occasion represents a crucial milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards expanding its export activities by gathering information from the informal economic sector.

Current trade statistics mainly focus on activities within the formal sector, providing little insight into informal export trades, even though they represent substantial volumes and have considerable economic effects,” she explained. “In 2024, official export records show that Nigeria shipped out 7.291 million metric tons of non-petroleum goods worth $5.456 billion. These numbers do not include figures related to informal exports.

She emphasized that informal cross-border trade is not merely a remote, marginal operation; rather, it is genuine commerce that drives livelihoods, reinforces regional supply networks, and considerably bolsters our national and continental economic resilience.

As she stated, “The informal export trade, which involves billions of dollars worth of goods and services, remains mostly unrecorded in our official documents. Data on informal exports gathered by the NEPC state offices through key routes in states such as Kano, Jigawa, Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Lagos, Ogun, and Adamawa show monthly transaction values exceeding $31.8 million during certain months of 2024.”

Ayeni revealed that according to information provided by the National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN), more than 1.6 million bags of onions were unofficially exported to neighboring nations including Ghana, Ivory Coast, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, and Niger Republic.

The head of NEPC highlighted that these remarkable accomplishments did not show up in the nation’s export trade statistics, thereby having significant repercussions for the country’s economic planning.

It reduces Nigeria’s influence in both local and international trade talks, deprives informal traders of the acknowledgment and assistance required for their growth, and undermines Nigeria’s economic prospects—particularly overlooking the crucial roles played by women, young people, and small businesses.

Ayeni stated that the partnership between the Council and the NBS came about due to the need to address the disparity and encompass the entire range of Nigeria’s export trade activities.

Adeyemi Adeniran, the Statistician General of the Federation, highlighted that the gathering of major stakeholders from national and state-level bodies, regional organizations, international development allies, and the business community underscores the robust collaborative ethos needed to tackle one of Nigeria’s critical issues within its trade data infrastructure: incorporating and aligning information related to informal commerce and service transactions with the nationwide system.

Adeniran believed that the lack of sufficient data significantly hinders evidence-driven policy-making, restricts the ability to participate effectively in equitable trade talks, and compromises the reliability of macroeconomic metrics. He further pointed out that conventional methods for measuring trade predominantly concentrate on official, high-volume exchanges, thereby neglecting the dynamic nature of informal trading pathways.

He revealed that unofficial commerce within Sub-Saharan Africa makes up anywhere from 20 to 40 percent of internal African trade, with Nigeria playing a substantial role because of its extensive and open frontiers.

“These aren’t merely data deficiencies; instead, they signify shortcomings in our comprehension of economic existence and the welfare of millions of Nigerians involved in these activities every day,” he stated.

Adeniran mentioned that this partnership with NEPC offers a crucial chance to modernize practices and embrace present developments, discover fresh possibilities, and create evidence-based plans aimed at boosting trade regularization, improving competitive edge, and eventually promoting an equitable expansion of the economy.

“Collecting informal trade information will assist us in crafting more effective border strategies, improving food safety, supporting the growth of small and medium-sized businesses, and tracking progress toward regional integration,” he noted.