Nigerian Government strategizes to lift EU ban on Agricultural Export

The Nigerian government is optimistic that the ban on Nigeria’s agricultural commodities by the European Union and the United States of America would soon be lifted, as it is working out plans to ensure Nigerian agricultural produce are accepted in the international market.

Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Dr. Mohammad Abubakar, disclosed this during a briefing by the Standing Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee (SIMTC) on Agro Zero Reject Initiative in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.

(The EU in June, 2015 announced the ban on some of Nigeria’s agricultural products, among which was beans. The EU had banned importation of Nigeria’s dried beans on the ground that the produce contained a high level of pesticide considered to be dangerous to human health).

The Minister, who noted that Nigeria’s potential for agricultural commodities export is large, said Nigeria’s Integrated Export Control Plan (IECP) should be put together meticulously.

“There is no doubt that Nigeria cannot realize its potential unless we do the right thing; work together first of all, and also realize and understand dealing with other agencies, private sector and governments across the world.

“It is not an easy task doing export business.

“There are a lot of regulations, and unless you start by putting your own home well, you will not be able to work outside.

“If we want to make headway, we must come down and learn to work with one another, and that really needs to be done to achieve success.

“It is not about trading but getting Nigeria out of being banned from Europe, America and other countries.

“We should have seamless export transaction.

“We will do what it takes to do the right thing,” the minister assured.

On his part, the Director, Federal Department of Agriculture (FDA), Mr Abdullahi Abubakar, explained that the essence of the Standing Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee was to ensure that the ban by the EU on the export of Nigerian beans was lifted.

According to him, Nigeria should never again suffer any rejection of agro commodities in the export market.

“Before the ban, several unheeded notifications were sent to Nigerian authorities.

“To lift the ban, EU wanted Nigeria to control her export and provide substantial evidence that the necessary food safety requirements and protocols are put in place,” he said.

Speaking on Nigeria’s Integrated Export Control Plan, the FDA director said it is a 5-year action plan for all the Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary (SPS) agencies and critical stakeholders to provide substantive guarantee required by the EU that the SPS bodies in Nigeria put Food Safety protocols in place in line with international standards.

“Few private companies have agreed to key into the implementation of the pilot action plan that would get the ban on our beans lifted and pave way for admitting Nigeria produce for export,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Standing Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee was inaugurated on February 28, 2021 to ensure that the ban by the European Union (EU) on the export of Nigerian beans was lifted and that Nigeria never again suffers any form of rejection of her agro commodities in the export market.

Source: Agro Nigeria

Additional Content: Amaka E. Nliam