By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Federal Government has inaugurated an interministerial committee to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural quarantine system, as part of efforts to curb the rejection of the country’s agricultural exports, enhance biosecurity and boost non-oil exports.
The committee was inaugurated on Tuesday at the Ministerial Conference Room of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in Abuja, according to a press statement issued by the ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Julie Osagie-Jacobs, who explained that the event was aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural biosecurity system, facilitating international trade and advancing President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The statement said the event brought together representatives of key ministries, departments and agencies, regulatory institutions, research organisations, farmers’ associations and other strategic stakeholders to develop a coordinated framework for strengthening the country’s agricultural quarantine system.
It added that the committee was inaugurated on behalf of the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Deborah Odoh, who reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to building an efficient, internationally compliant quarantine system capable of protecting Nigeria’s agricultural resources while enhancing the country’s access to regional and global markets.
Odoh observed that Nigeria could no longer afford the losses associated with the rejection of agricultural exports due to non-compliance with international standards, stating that the establishment of the committee demonstrated the Federal Government’s resolve to strengthen policy coordination, eliminate institutional bottlenecks, harmonise regulatory processes and align Nigeria’s quarantine system with global best practices.
The statement added that committee members were urged to approach the assignment with professionalism, patriotism and a strong sense of national responsibility, with the government expressing confidence that its recommendations would strengthen Nigeria’s biosecurity framework, improve agricultural trade, increase non-oil exports, enhance farmers’ incomes and contribute to sustainable economic growth.
It further noted that the inauguration marked another milestone in the Federal Government’s efforts to build a resilient agricultural sector, strengthen food security and position Nigeria as a leading exporter of safe, high-quality agricultural products.
On the role of the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service, the statement quoted the agency’s Comptroller-General and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Vincent Isegbe, as describing it as Nigeria’s first line of defence against the introduction and spread of plant, animal and aquatic pests and diseases.
It explained that the service conducted pest risk analysis, inspection, surveillance, certification and other quarantine procedures to ensure that agricultural commodities entering or leaving the country met internationally accepted standards.
According to the statement, strengthening the country’s agricultural quarantine system would reduce the rejection of Nigerian exports, improve foreign exchange earnings, enhance the country’s reputation as a reliable exporter, and create greater opportunities for farmers, exporters and agribusinesses.
It added that unlocking Nigeria’s agricultural potential would require stronger collaboration among institutions responsible for agriculture, trade, finance, customs, transportation, standards, laboratory accreditation, research and border security.
The statement also quoted the Director of Economic Growth at the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Auwal Mohammed, as describing the inauguration as a significant step towards strengthening inter-agency collaboration in support of agricultural development, food security and economic diversification. It noted that effective agricultural quarantine remained essential for protecting Nigeria’s crops, livestock, fisheries and natural resources from transboundary pests and diseases, while ensuring compliance with international sanitary and phytosanitary standards.
According to the statement, the committee’s terms of reference include reviewing proposals to strengthen the operational capacity of the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service, assessing infrastructure and laboratory requirements, recommending sustainable funding mechanisms and developing practical strategies to enhance compliance with international sanitary and phytosanitary standards while promoting Nigeria’s agricultural exports.
The statement listed the committee’s members as representatives of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, the Budget Office of the Federation, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, the Nigerian National Accreditation System, the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, freight forwarding associations and other relevant stakeholders.
