During the official commissioning of the new NAFDAC Office complex for the Murtala Muhammed International Airport/NAHCO in Lagos, the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mojisola Adeyeye, made a startling revelation.
She disclosed that over 70 percent of food exports from Nigeria face rejection when they reach foreign shores.
In a statement released by NAFDAC’s resident media consultant, Sayo Akintola, Mrs. Adeyeye emphasized that the incessant rejection of Nigerian food exports in certain European countries and the United States of America could soon be resolved if there is a stronger collaboration between NAFDAC and other government agencies operating at the ports.
Mrs. Adeyeye expressed deep concern regarding the state of export trade facilitation for regulated products leaving the country.
However, she acknowledged that NAFDAC is actively addressing this challenge by working closely with port agencies to ensure that exported goods meet the regulatory requirements of the destination countries.
Highlighting the significance of NAFDAC’s presence at the ports and land borders, Mrs. Adeyeye stated, “The mandate to safeguard the health of the populace through ensuring that food, medicines, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals, and packaged water are safe, efficacious, and of the right quality in an economy that is overwhelmingly dependent on the importation of the bulk of its finished products and raw materials could never have been actualized without the effective presence of NAFDAC at the ports and land borders.”
She further emphasized the crucial collaboration between NAFDAC and various agencies, such as Customs, Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Services, police, and security agencies like the Department of State Services, Interpol, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Mrs. Adeyeye highlighted the role of these agencies in investigations, enforcement, and maintaining the integrity of the export process.
NAFDAC’s collaboration with Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Services is specifically aimed at ensuring due diligence in export processes.
The high rejection rate of over 70 percent for products leaving Nigerian ports is a matter of grave concern, as it results in substantial financial losses for both exporters and the country as a whole.
Efforts to address these challenges are ongoing, with NAFDAC working tirelessly to enhance collaboration and streamline procedures at the ports.
It is hoped that these measures will lead to a significant reduction in the rejection rate of Nigerian food exports, promoting the reputation and economic viability of the country’s export industry.
, Mojisola Adeyeye, made a startling revelation. ){kind=link}