The Federal Government has disclosed that it is working out plans to ensure Nigerian agricultural produce are accepted in the international market. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Dr Mohammad Abubakar, made this known during a briefing by the Standing Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee (SIMTC) on Agro Zero Reject Initiative in Abuja, on Thursday. Speaking, Abubakar expressed optimism that the ban on Nigeria’s agricultural commodities by the European Union and the United States of America, would soon be lifted. 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. His words: “There is no doubt that Nigeria cannot realise its potential unless we do the right thing; work together first of all, and also realise 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 SIMTC 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. He said, “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. ” Speaking on IECP, 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 SIMTC was inaugurated on February 28, 2021to 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.
