Agro-Export Rejects: Nigerian Government receives Technical Committee’s Report
Jennifer Inah
The Nigerian Government has received the Report of a Technical Committee which was set up to prevent the rejection of agro-exports from the country.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Adeniyi Adebayo, who received the committee’s report in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, noted that the Committee’s recommendations will increase the export basket of agricultural commodities and foreign exchange earnings for the country.
He said the Committee was made up of members from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies and the Organized Private Sector and was given six weeks to complete its assignment.
“It would be recalled that I inaugurated this Committee on 26th May, 2022 to look into the rejection of our agro-exports in the international market and proffer recommendations to stop the menace.
“At the event, I expressed my confidence in the quality and calibre of members of this Committee to deliver and I am happy that the Committee lived up to my expectations,” said the Minister.
He commended the members of the Committee for the time and efforts invested to complete the assignment:
“By this singular act, you have demonstrated your capability to accomplish much within a very short space of time.
“And I urge you to keep it up as more assignments will be coming your way in the implementation of the recommendations.”
Presenting the recommendations to the Minister, the Chairman of the Committee and Director, Commodities and Export Department of the Ministry, Suleman Audu, urged the government to embark on a sensitization and awareness programme on the need for farmers and operators in the agricultural value chain to secure and adopt Global GAP certifications in collaboration with the private sector.
“The Agriculture and Trade Ministries should collaborate with Research Institutes to scale up Research and Development activities for the improvement of produce, products, packaging and labelling requirements,” he added.
