Agro Exporters: NAQS Boss Promises Ease of Business

The new Comptroller General of the National Agricultural Quarantine Service in Acting Capacity Dr. Godwin Sunday Audu has promised to make doing business easier for agro-exporters within the export environment in Nigeria.

Addressing journalists at the agency’s head office in Abuja, Dr. Audu outlined key areas of focus for the agency under his leadership.

Dr. Audu stated that he would focus firstly on Ease of Doing Business: in line with the Presidential Enabling Environment Council effort within the export environment in which the agency participates, NAQS is committed to enhancing the export environment by expediting inspection and certification services, streamlining application processes, and automating quarantine procedures.

Secondly, Double Taxation: He said “the agency would optimize operations at interstate control stations to minimize delays in the haulage of agro commodities” while collaborating with stakeholders to address and eliminate illegal operators causing bottlenecks on Federal highways.

On the issues of Discipline and Inclusion: Dr. Audu highlighted the importance of maintaining discipline, order, and inclusiveness within the organization.

The acting Comptroller General expressed gratitude to the pioneer Comptroller General, NAQS, Dr. Vincent Isegbe for “his commendable service and commitment to establishing a solid foundation for the agency.”

Dr. Audu, who is a Deputy Comptroller General (DCG) of Quarantine, has since assumed the office and responsibilities as the acting Comptroller General of the agency following the handover by the agency’s pioneer Comptroller, Dr. Vincent Isegbe at the expiration of his tenure on the 12th of December, 2023, in accordance with the NAQS Establishment Act which requires the authority be handed over to the next most senior Director in the agency to step in, in an actng capacity.

Dr. Audu concluded by assuring all stakeholders that the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service is dedicated to enhancing service delivery while aligning its mandate with the Renewed Hope agenda of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Shakirat Sadiq