EU Lifts Ban on Nigerian Beans

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The three-year ban placed on beans from Nigeria has been lifted by the European Union (EU).

This was made known by the Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Control (NAFDAC), Dr Yetunde Oni.

The NAFDAC boss disclosed that Nigeria was not allowed to take its beans to Europe because it was claimed to be substandard and poisonous.

Dr Oni, while addressing Senate Committee on Health, said the ban removal was made possible because NAFDAC had put in place strategic attempt to improvise locally made products in other to suit both local and international demand.

She said, “We are putting our best as an institution to ensure that all leakages are blocked, and we are also ensuring that next year will be better than this year because we have put a lot of strategies in place.”

The Senate Committee was at the agency’s office for a facility visit.

During the visit, Dr Oni appealed to the lawmaker to push for the return of NAFDAC to the country’s borders so as to ensure counterfeit products do not enter Nigeria.

“The unwholesome product coming into the country comes through porous active border post, and NAFDAC is not at the ports. We are not aware of what is entering into the country.

“Although we have a strong relationship with the customs and we are always invited to perform our roles, but being at the port used to be the case in the past. We want the Ministry of Health to help us look into it,” Dr Oni said.

Responding, Chairman of the health committee, Mr Olanrewaju Tejuosho, commended the agency for its efforts at safeguarding the nation.

However, the lawmaker lamented that products under exporting ban were negatively affecting the country as income to be generated from exporting were meant to boost the financial situation of the country.

Mr Tejuosho urged NAFDAC to ensure that products meant for export meet international standards.

He explained that the visit to NAFDAC was to prepare and ensure a better budget preparation against 2017.

He said 2016 budget suffered a lot of paddling as a result of impromptu preparation of the budget which was planned within two to three weeks.