Makurdi — Poor and total lack of record keeping have been identified as factors responsible for the poor rating of Nigeria in international trade. Managing Director of NEXIM Bank, Mr. Robert Orya, who spoke in Makurdi yesterday, said that for over 30 years, the country participated actively in international trade, but that there is no record to show how it has performed so far.

Orya said he has already started correcting the unfortunate trend, and expressed hope that Nigerians will soon begin to feel the impact. He lamented over a situation where a country which has products in virtually every market, especially in the West African sub-region, is abysmally rated, saying NEXIM under his leadership is doing everything possible to correct the anomalies.

"We have a situation today that in this sub region of about 300 million population, Nigerian products take care of 50 per cent, but during ratings, smaller nations are rated higher than Nigeria", he said.

He called on Nigerians to avail themselves of the opportunities NEXIM has presented and engage in ventures that will boost the economy of the nation. He added that the bank is more interested in giving out loans which are revolving rather than giving out contracts to individuals.