By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has announced the creation of a 10-member Implementation Committee to tackle the constant rejection of Nigerian products in the international market.
Over the years, Nigeria’s exports have been rejected due to the lack of standards as approved by the international community; and this has led to constant drawbacks in the country’s trade balance, with the country making more imports than it exports.
The committee was inaugurated by Nigeria’s trade minister, Mr Niyi Adebayo, on Thursday, noting that their duties include the effective implementation of the report of the Technical Committee, with recommendations aimed at addressing the rejection of Nigeria’s food exports.
Mr Adebayo said the committee would employ an effective implementation of the report and also provide recommendations aimed at addressing the challenges of rejection of agro-exports in the international market.
“Suffice it to state that some activities have been outlined to implement the recommendations of the committee. And it is the task of the Implementation Committee to diligently ensure that they are properly articulated for the growth and development of the export sub-sector of the economy.
“As the assignment has reached a crucial stage, I wish to urge members of the committee to rededicate themselves to be able to accomplish this urgent national assignment in good time,” the minister said.
The Minister also urged the members to consider themselves fortunate and worthy of the assignment and realize the dream of stopping the rejection of Nigeria’s agro-commodities.
On his part, Mr Ezra Yakusak, Chairman of the Implementation Committee and executive director/CEO of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), said implementing the recommendations would provide lasting solutions to the numerous challenges bedevilling the development of the non-oil export sub-sector.
Adding her input, Mrs Evelyn Obidike, Director, Product Development at the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), said, “the technical committee will no doubt provide lasting solutions to challenges of non-oil export, especially rejection at the international market.”
Recall that earlier this week, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) inaugurated Nigeria’s first Export Processing Terminal at Lilypond in Ijora, Lagos. This was done in a bid to ensure prompt and seamless processing of export cargoes accessing Apapa and Tin-Can Island Ports in Lagos.
Modupe Gbadeyanka