Nigeria's non-oil exports hit record 60 %

LAGOS, Nov. 25 (Chinese media) -- The Nigerian federal government on Monday said

its non-oil exports recorded unprecedented growth of 60 percent in the last

quarter of 2008, mostly in agricultural products.

Aliyu Lawal, acting executive director of Nigerian Export Promotion

Council, disclosed this in Abuja, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.

He said in spite of all the odds, non-oil exports rose from 40 percent in

the first quarter to 60 percent, adding that the odds included lack of

electricity power and transportation that added to the cost of doing business in

the country.

According to him, the performing sectors are finished leather products,

cocoa and its products, sesame seeds and manufactured products such as cosmetics

and toiletries.

He said Nigeria made a shipment of garment to the United States for the

first time under the African Growth and Opportunity Act.

The director explained that the feat was achieved because of the efforts of

the Council to enlighten and inculcate the culture of formal exports into

exporters.

Lawal noted that although agriculture took the major part of the export,

the best performers in the export market were high technology and

skill-intensive products and services.