The Nigerian Export Promotion Council: Driving Non-Oil Exports

Nov 23, 2025 0

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) is a pivotal organization that fosters the growth and diversification of Nigeria’s export sector. Established to promote and develop non-oil exports, the NEPC significantly enhances Nigeria’s presence in the global market. The Nigerian Export Promotion Council] (NEPC)[5] was established through the promulgation of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council Decree No. 26 of 1976 and was formally implemented in March 1977.

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.

To fully appreciate the impact of the NEPC, it’s important to explore what it does, why it does it, its benefits, its role in export development, its collaboration with other agencies, recent government mandates, and its performance compared to similar agencies in Africa.

Core Functions of the NEPC

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) is the government agency responsible for regulation, promotion, recording and monitoring of export trade in the country. It is the organ which the government uses to implement its export policies and strategies. As an exporter, there are several ways through which the NEPC can help and protect your export business.

Here are some key functions of NEPC:

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Regulation and Monitoring: The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) is the government agency responsible for regulation, promotion, recording and monitoring of export trade in the country.
Financial Support: Lastly, you can get financial support through the NEPC; although the NEPC might not be able to give you direct loans, they can provide useful information on where to get loans easily for your export business.
Proper Documentation: Ensure proper documentation of export transactions: Proper documentation is very important in exportation because it shows proof and provides a legal basis for transactions.
Quality and Standards: The NEPC also monitors the quality and standards of products goings out to ensure that they are of high quality.
Trade Fairs and Exhibitions: The NEPC also helps to organize and facilitate the participation of Nigerians in international trade fairs and exhibition events.
Problem Solving: If at any point in your export business you encounter some challenges or problems; the NEPC is your go-to agency for complaints and solutions to your challenges.

The governmental body became even more active under the democratic dispensation. They make it easier for exporters to access the foreign market, identify products that can be exported, understand standardization, specifications and packaging requirements.

The NEPC was established in and has its offices across Nigeria.

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Mission and Objectives

The NEPC’s primary mission is to promote the development and diversification of Nigeria’s export base. This includes creating awareness about the opportunities in the export market, providing support and guidance to exporters, and facilitating market access for Nigerian products. The council offers a range of services, such as export training programs, market intelligence, financial support, and international trade fair participation.

The NEPC’s activities are driven by the need to diversify Nigeria’s economy, which has traditionally been heavily reliant on oil exports. By promoting non-oil exports, the NEPC aims to reduce the country’s economic vulnerability to oil price fluctuations and create a more resilient and sustainable economy.

The roles exportation plays in boosting a nation’s economy and its importance cannot be over-emphasized. There is a great need to be acquainted with its functions.

Did you find this post useful? Can you think of any other function of the NEPC?

Benefits and Impact

The NEPC’s work brings numerous benefits to the Nigerian economy and its exporters. For businesses, the council offers critical support in navigating the complexities of international trade. This includes helping companies understand export procedures, comply with international standards, and find new markets. The broader benefits include enhanced foreign exchange earnings, job creation, and a more diversified economy.

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Here are some of the ways NEPC can assist businesses:

NEPC can assist, advice and guide you on how to embark on successful export business.
You can start by assessing your company using the Export Readiness Checker.
If you have an existing business, you can also find out where you can start exporting your products through the NEPC.
Business Registration: Before you can carry out exportation business; you have to register with the NEPC. This registration is beneficial for you because the NEPC maintains a database of all Nigerian exporters that overseas buyers can use to find legitimate suppliers.
Bring Exporters together: The NEPC also creates an avenue for exporters to come together under one umbrella to relate and discuss issues related to export promotion and development.
Provides information on product sourcing: If you are unsure of where to get particular products for export, you can ask the NEPC for help.
They Administer Grants and Incentives: If you are registered with the NEPC, then you can easily access some of the grants and incentives that the government doles out regularly to help exporters in the country.
They also help to simplify the export procedure: If you are new into exportation, it’s easy to get confused and misunderstand the procedure; a visit to the office of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council would help to enlighten you and put things in perspective.
They Carry out research and studies: The NEPC also carries out regular studies and research into matters concerning exporters and factors that may affect/influence exportation in Nigeria.
Help to Solve Problems: If at any point in your export business you encounter some challenges or problems; the NEPC is your go-to agency for complaints and solutions to your challenges.

You may also check out these lists of items that are exportable from Nigeria to other parts of the world. However, if you need to see an export business expert, get in touch with Bowa Gate Global Limited.

You can obtain an exporter’s certificate by filling in the online form after meeting the requirements.

Role in Export Development

The NEPC is central to Nigeria’s export development strategy. Its efforts focus on identifying potential export products, developing export-ready businesses, and facilitating access to international markets. The council’s efforts aim to ensure that Nigerian products are competitive on the global stage. This involves improving product quality, ensuring compliance with international standards, and providing market intelligence to help businesses make informed decisions.

NEPC currently offers information about promising markets for some focus products for exports from Nigeria. Both videos and one-page reports are available on the Market Information-pages for the focus products. Cannot find the product you are exporting? Please be patient, as more reports will be available soon!

NEPC offers, amongst others, a Zero to Export training programme (capacity building) and the Export Clinic for newly registered companies. The trainings are aimed at developing and improving export skills. It nurtures and updates exporters on trade developments and business opportunities in international markets.

If NEPC will be present at an overseas trade fair, you can participate by filling in an online application form.

NEPC can help with pricing for export! Yes!

Rules of Origin (ROO) are the criteria needed to determine the national source of a product. These are used to define where a product was made.

The needed certificates depend on the product(s) you are exporting. Want to learn all about certificates and how it helps your international business?

There are various ways of getting buyers for your products.

Collaboration with Other Agencies

The NEPC collaborates with various government and private sector organizations to achieve its objectives. Key partners include the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON). These collaborations are essential for creating a supportive ecosystem for exporters. For instance, while the NEPC focuses on market development and promotion, the NCS handles the regulatory and procedural aspects of exports, and the SON ensures that products meet international standards.

Recent Government Mandates

The Nigerian government’s most recent mandate for the NEPC emphasizes the need to accelerate the diversification of the export base. This includes a renewed focus on promoting value-added products and services, increasing manufactured goods exports, and expanding into new markets. The government has also tasked the NEPC with improving the ease of doing business for exporters, reducing bureaucratic hurdles, and enhancing access to financing for export-oriented businesses.

Strategic Growth Plans

The NEPC’s growth plan for the export sector is comprehensive and strategic.

Product Development and Diversification: The NEPC aims to identify and promote new export products, particularly in agriculture, manufacturing, and services.
Market Access and Expansion: The council is working to open new markets for Nigerian products through trade agreements, market research, and participation in international trade fairs.
Capacity Building and Training: The NEPC provides extensive training and capacity-building programs to help exporters understand international trade dynamics, improve product quality, and meet regulatory requirements.
Policy Advocacy and Reform: The NEPC actively engages with policymakers to advocate for reforms that will improve the export environment.
Partnerships and Collaboration: Strengthening partnerships with other government agencies, private sector organizations, and international bodies is a key part of the NEPC’s strategy.
Technology and Innovation: The NEPC is leveraging technology to improve its services and support exporters. This includes developing online platforms for market information, export documentation, and training.

The functions of the Nigeria Exportation Promotion Council (NEPC) are great values to exporters.

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Nigerians Leverage N50BN NEPC Facility To Boost Non Oil Exports

NEPC and Export Incentives

Export incentives are aimed to encourage and assist companies to increase non-oil exports from Nigeria. Both product diversification and increasing existing non-oil exports are supported. One of the requirements in accessing export incentives is registering your company with the NEPC. Want to learn more?

NEPC is the government agency responsible for the promotion of non-oil exports. NEPC does not provide direct funding for exports. However, the Export Expansion Grant scheme (a Federal Government intervention) is a post-shipment initiative for export development. The Export Expansion Grant entails the provision of non-cash grant to exporters. This incentive aims to enable exporters (meeting certain requirements) expanding export volume and value.

Performance and Comparison

When comparing the NEPC’s performance to that of similar export promotion agencies across Africa, it is evident that the NEPC has made significant strides, although challenges remain. Countries like Kenya, South Africa, and Ghana also have robust export promotion agencies that have successfully diversified their export bases and increased their share in the global market. The NEPC has been effective in creating awareness and providing support to exporters. However, there is still room for improvement in areas such as market access, export financing, and compliance with international standards.

Agency	Country	Key Focus Areas	Achievements	Challenges
NEPC	Nigeria	Diversification of non-oil exports, market access, capacity building	Increased awareness among exporters, support services provided	Market access, export financing, compliance with standards
Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA)	Kenya	Promoting Kenyan products, market research, export development	Diversified export base, increased global market share	Competition, trade barriers
South African Export Promotion Agency	South Africa	Supporting export-oriented businesses, trade facilitation	Strong export growth, diversified markets	Economic instability, regulatory hurdles
Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA)	Ghana	Developing export capabilities, promoting non-traditional exports	Increased non-traditional exports, market expansion	Financing, infrastructure

What products are banned for exports? The Nigerian Customs Service have been prohibited some items for exports. This means you are not allowed to export these goods. Any attempt to smuggle them across the border will be deemed illegal.

Often there is little that we can do to assist in these situations. NEPC is often called upon to aid Nigerian companies involved in commercial disputes. You are advised to engage the services of a legal practitioner before and after transaction. We deem it appropriate to begin from the most important part in order to determine for you how best to go about your importation business.

Ikenna, Obioha.