The Federal Government has inaugurated a Technical Working Group (TWG) on Agricultural Produce Residue Standards to tackle the persistent rejection of Nigerian agricultural exports over non-compliance with international residue and food safety requirements.
Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, described the initiative as a major step towards improving food safety and boosting Nigeria’s competitiveness in global agricultural markets.
According to the minister, the move aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to ensure that Nigerian agricultural products meet both production targets and internationally accepted quality standards.
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Abdullahi noted that repeated export rejections linked to excessive pesticide residues and other sanitary concerns have cost the country valuable revenue, weakened buyer confidence, and limited opportunities for farmers, exporters and agribusinesses.
He said growing concerns over food safety and contaminants require a coordinated, science-driven response, making the establishment of the TWG both timely and necessary.
The minister explained that the committee will bring together experts from government agencies, research institutions, academia, commodity groups, the private sector and development partners to address challenges surrounding agricultural residue standards.
He charged members of the group to develop practical and sustainable solutions that will strengthen food safety systems, promote responsible pesticide use, and improve access to premium export markets.
“The recommendations must be evidence-based, inclusive and aligned with global best practices while reflecting local realities,” he said.
Abdullahi added that the work of the TWG would help protect public health, improve the quality of Nigerian produce, increase export earnings and reduce losses arising from market restrictions.
Improving Nigeria’s Export Ambitions
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi, represented by the Director of the Federal Department of Agriculture, Bukar Musa, described agriculture as a key driver of food security, employment, foreign exchange earnings and rural development.
He warned that rising export rejections due to residue violations pose a serious threat to Nigeria’s export ambitions and the livelihoods of farmers and agribusiness operators.
Ogunbiyi said the inauguration marks the beginning of efforts to establish a stronger agricultural residue management framework capable of meeting international standards.
Speaking on behalf of the committee, the Chairman of the TWG, Prof. Lateef Oladimeji San, said the group would work to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural quality assurance system and ensure compliance with global residue standards.
He said the committee’s mandate includes reviewing existing regulations, harmonising national standards with international benchmarks, and strengthening laboratory capacity for monitoring and enforcement.
The TWG has been given two months to review existing frameworks, identify regulatory gaps, assess pesticide residue levels in priority crops and submit recommendations to the Federal Government.
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