Over 70% of food exports from Nigeria are being rejected abroad, according to the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof Mojisola Adeyeye.
She made this revelation during the official commissioning of the new NAFDAC Office complex for the Murtala Muhammed International Airport/NAHCO in Lagos.
In a statement released by Sayo Akintola, the Resident Media Consultant to the agency, Adeyeye emphasized the need for strengthened collaboration between NAFDAC and other government agencies at the ports to address the issue of rejected food exports.
She expressed concern over the deplorable state of export trade facilitation for regulated products leaving the country, pointing out that a visit to NAFDAC’s export warehouses within the international airport would reveal the major reasons for the continuous rejection of Nigerian exports abroad.
Adeyeye acknowledged that the agency is responding to the challenge by working closely with the agencies at the ports to ensure that goods meet the regulatory requirements of the importing countries and destinations.
She highlighted the importance of NAFDAC’s presence at the ports and land borders in fulfilling its mandate of safeguarding the health of the populace by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and quality of food, medicines, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals, and packaged water.
The NAFDAC boss also commended the Nigeria Customs Service for their collaboration, acknowledging that without their support, many of the agency’s accomplishments would not have been possible.
She described NAFDAC as a complex organization that works closely with various entities, including the Department of State Services, Interpol, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, due to the presence of a few unscrupulous stakeholders.
Highlighting the magnitude of the problem, Adeyeye revealed, “NAFDAC collaborates with Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Services to ensure that due diligence is done because over 70% of the products that leave our ports get rejected.
Considering the money spent on getting those products out of the country, it is a double loss for both the exporter and the country.”
The Director-General also emphasized the crucial role played by the police in NAFDAC’s work, particularly in terms of investigation and enforcement. She stated that NAFDAC has more than 80 policemen who support the agency during raids and investigations.
