To avert the rejection of Nigeria’s agricultural produce at the international market, the Federal Government says it will begin special training for exporters.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said this at the high-level meeting on the Validation of Nigeria’s Strategy for a Single Quality Control Management System for Zero Rejection of Agricultural Commodities in the country.
Ogbeh, who spoke against the backdrop of the current rejection of various Nigerian commodities by the European Union, explained that the training was aimed at exposing the exporters to various international practices.
He said that the government would not hesitate to sanction defaulting exporters, henceforth.
Ogbeh said: “We will ensure that we make quarantine services available in the airports and seaports, to ensure quality control of our agricultural produce before exports.
“We shall begin training project for those who desire to export our agricultural produce.
“In the spirit of anti-corruption and beneficial change for national redemption, we shall not spare the offenders for causing our beloved nation avoidable losses and unnecessary embarrassment.
“We must develop zero-tolerance for the transportation of sub-standard produce within and out of the country by land, air and sea and checkmate circumventing certification and quality control compliance checks.
“ We will soon start rejecting nylon bag for packaging of export produce and only accept jute bags.’’
Dr Jomoke Oduwole, the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-President on Trade and Investment, described the rejection of Nigeria’s produce as a ‘national embarrassment’.
Oduwole commended the government’s efforts aimed at ensuring zero-rejection of Nigeria’s agricultural commodities in the international markets.
She said that the National Quality Infrastructure Project would soon be implemented in the country.
The Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Okechukwu Enelemah, assured the exporters that the European Union would soon lift its ban on the exportation of beans from Nigeria.
Represented by Ope Omololu, the Director, Commodity and Inspectorate Department of the ministry, Enelemah called for collaboration among various agencies to achieve the zero-rejection.
Abubakar Umar, the Deputy Controller-General, Nigeria Customs Service called for the establishment of quality control laboratories at designated places to enable various agencies to certify the export commodities.
Umar said: “The Federal Government can designate areas where products can be inspected, container-sealed and escorted to the ship.
“We do not need to be crowded at the sea ports to do this work. There should be holistic reform efforts.’’
In his remarks, Dr Vincent Isegbe, the Coordinating Director, Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service stressed the need for the representatives of the service to be stationed at the seaports to inspect export commodities.
Isegbe expressed regret that the service was sidelined during inspection of export goods, saying that the development was the major reason for the rejection of the country’s produce.
Also speaking, Dr Shaukat Malik, representative of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, who is also the Officer in Charge of the National Quality Infrastructure Project, to the Federal Government to strengthen the institution mandated to ensure quality control.
A representative from the private sector, Babatunde Ogunyemi, advocated for the inspection of Nigeria’s agricultural produce beginning with the seeds, planting, fertiliser application and harvest, to reduce rejection.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the quality control document was signed by Ogbeh for onward approval by Vice President Yemi Osibanjo.
FG to begin `quality control’ training for produce exporters
