FG’s single window platforms to address agric export rejection

In a determined move focused at addressing export rejects of Nigeria’s non oil exports, the Federal Government on Tuesday  took a bold approach through validation of Nigeria’s strategy for a single quality control management system and plan for zero reject of agricultural commodities and produce, which  is targeted at growing Nigeria’s economy through non oil exports.

The strategy, Audu Ogbeh the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said  is embodied in two documents for Validation which include: Methodology of Conduit of Excellence(quality and Safety Controlled Beans from Nigeria) and standard Operating Procedure Manual for zero reject for non-oil exported in Nigeria.

The European  Commission,(EU),it would be recalled  has extended the ban for another three years of Nigerian Beans into the EU markets  while  the Head of Trade and Economic Section of the EU delegation to Nigeria,  Filippo Amato said the ban would remain until substantial guarantees are provided that adequate official control systems have been put in place.
The Minister who described the export rejects and ban on Nigeria’s beans as embarrassing  noted that the validation strategy  will among other things address the concerns raised by the European Union and other global bodies in respect to exports rejects on  Nigeria’s export markets, which he said would add to Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings through non oil  exports.

In a globalised world, and in this era of free Trade, nothing is more embarrassing and tragic than to have Nigerian goods and food items rejected in the World Market. We may have treated the rejection by other economies as prejudice and discrimination. To me, this is unwise and self-defeating. The truth is that we have seriously not paid attention” Ogbeh said while raising further concerns on the export rejects of Nigeria products.

Speaking further on government’s strategies, he said, “There is a bigger committee of the Presidential Council on ease of doing business chaired by the office of the Vice President. This validation exercise will also dovetail into that bigger assignment so that we come out with a bigger approach of doing business and doing it correctly”

Meanwhile,Moses Babatunde Ogunyemi an exporter of fresh fruits to EU Markets, who spoke to BusinessDay on the sideline of  the event said “In as much there is a room for us to produce in larger quantity, Nigeria is falling behind in many years.

Ghana has got it right, Cameroon, Costa rica, Uganda, and Nigeria is the only airport that the Airport Cargo goes to sleep on Fridays and open on Mondays”

The exporter said, “Technically, we need to look holistically at our operations. For instance, you could Cargo in Ghana in two hours. But in Nigeria, it is contrary. Let me state categorically, if we open our Cargo exports for 24 hours, we will triple in six months, our exportation for fresh produce through the airports”

We are loosing millions of what could have earned us foreign exchange, because as it is now, the fresh produce capacity for United Kingdom in a week cannot be less than 60 tonns per week, and we are not even doing 20 tonns per week. Nigeria it might interest you to know does not have a temperature control area for its fresh produce in its cargo airport. We need all the processes to be in place to succeed,” Ogunyemi added.

It would be noted that experts in the export sector have maintained that for Nigeria to ensure global standards in its exports,its  standardisation must start from seed selections, in addition to sowing and planting those seeds.

Managing the field proceeds, control of weeds and pests, harvesting and handling of post harvesting procedures, which are often not adhered to because of sharp practices,” Ike Ubaka, the President of All Farmers Association of Nigeria also told BusinessDay at the event.

To this effect, the Minister at the validation warned that henceforth, the government will come hard on the culprits by naming and shaming individuals and agencies failing to abide by laid down regulations on standards and quality control, adding that the government will go the extra mile in ensuring that all exporters of agricultural produce and food items follow the rules by complying with prescribed global standards.

Ogbeh also informed that the Federal Government shall ensure that quarantine services are available everyday in all our airports and seaports. Oversight regulatory agencies such as the Nigeria Customs Service and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control,(NAFDAC) in addition to Standards Organisation of Nigeria will be strengthened to carry our their regulatory mandates”