The Federal Government through the Ministry of Agriculture has said all hands are on deck at ensuring that the European Union and the United States accept Nigeria’s agricultural produce.
It should be recalled that the two regions imposed bans on beans and other commodities exports from Nigeria, saying they contained a high level of pesticide.
In 2017, Audu Ogbeh, the former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the European Union sent 48 notifications on Nigeria’s agro products between 2016 and 2017 alone. While the initial sanction was imposed in 2015.
He said “Between 2016 and 2017, about 48 notifications were received from the EU on our export goods (nuts and seeds as well as fruits and vegetables) due to aflatoxin and many other contaminants, either biological or chemical.”
Surprisingly, five years later Nigeria’s agricultural commodities remained banned despite the country’s struggle with foreign revenue generation and the recent initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to up export proceeds to $200 billion over a 3 to 5 years period under its RT200 Non-oil Export initiative.
Dr. Mohammad Abubakar, the current Agriculture Minister, on Thursday said the Federal Government is presently working on ensuring that the ban on Nigerian agricultural produce is lifted.
The minister revealed this during a briefing at the Standing Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee (SIMTC) on Agro Zero Reject Initiative in Abuja.
Abubakar explained that the potential for commodities export is big. However, he urged the government to implement Nigeria’s Integrated Export Control Plan (IECP) meticulously.
“It is not about trading but getting Nigeria out of being banned from Europe, America and other countries,” he said.
“We should have a seamless export transaction. We will do what it takes to do the right thing. 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.
The minister added that “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.”
