Inaugurating the Committee on behalf of the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Deborah Odoh, said government is committed to building an efficient and internationally compliant quarantine system. She said this will protect Nigeria’s agricultural resources and improve access to global markets.
Dr. Odoh noted that Nigeria can no longer afford losses from rejected agricultural exports due to non-compliance with international standards. She urged members to work with professionalism and patriotism to strengthen policy coordination, remove bottlenecks, and align NAQS with global best practices.
The Comptroller-General of NAQS, Dr. Vincent Isegbe, said the Service is Nigeria’s first line of defence against plant, animal and aquatic pests and diseases. He explained that NAQS handles inspection, certification, surveillance and pest risk analysis to ensure commodities meet international standards.
Dr. Isegbe stated that a stronger quarantine system will reduce export rejections, increase foreign exchange earnings, and improve Nigeria’s reputation as a reliable exporter. He added that collaboration among agriculture, trade, finance, customs and other agencies is key to unlocking Nigeria’s agricultural potential.
The Committee includes representatives from Budget and Economic Planning, Agriculture, Finance, Trade and Investment, Customs, NCAA, AFAN, IITA and other stakeholders. Their terms of reference include reviewing NAQS operations, assessing infrastructure needs, recommending funding options, and developing strategies to meet international standards and grow agricultural exports.
