Oduah: 14 Perishable Cargo Terminals For Exports in 2014

Aviation Minister Princess Stella Oduah has assured that 14 perishable cargo terminals will be completed next year to deliver the first consignment of fresh produce for local and international markets.

The 14 cargo terminals are located in Abuja, Akure, Calabar, Ilorin, Jalingo, Jos, Kano, Lagos, Makurdi, Minna, Owerri, Asaba, Port Harcourt and Uyo.

The terminals, the minister said, had been selected in line with their regional agricultural comparative advantage and private sector expressions of interest.

Oduah, who spoke at the weekend in Lagos, was optimistic that the expected revenue from the export of farm produce through the cargo terminals would surpass oil revenue in the next 10 years.

The programme, she stressed, would also empower farmers, who constitute 85 per cent of Nigeria’s work force, and eliminate poverty by 60 per cent.

Oduah noted that though the programme was being driven by the Federal Government, states and local governments would also have keyed into it to enable rural dwellers earn from their produce.

The minister said the government would ensure a standard for the quality of the produce and packaging to meet international consumers’ expectations in Europe, the United States and other parts of the world.

She said many of the global consumers had shown their interest in Nigeria’s farm produce.

Oduah said: “Various private investors and state governments have expressed readiness to take advantage of the programme and contact the relevant authorities for permissions to establish Export Processing Zones or Free Economic Zones at the terminals.”

Also, spokesman of Aviation corporations Yakubu Dati said the varieties fresh produce in Nigeria and the growing economic importance of the sector, which stands at US$1.53 billion (N245 billion), necessitated the development of the 14 cargo terminals.

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