Revival of Ikorodu Terminal insight as Ogbeh, NPA seal deal on processing Agro Export
Indications are underway that as part of the Presidential order on Ease of Doing business and usefulness of Seaports for agro-export, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) is in serious talks with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to use moribund Ikorodu Terminal for processing agricultural products for export.
It would be recalled that the Minister, Chief Audu Ogbeh had on vowed that Nigeria will begin yams to the UK and US effective 29th of June, this year.
Giving the hint during a stakeholders’ forum in Lagos on zero reject initiatives, Ogbeh revealed that “Very soon, a major infrastructure of the Federal Government, which has been idle for decades will come alive again with productive economic activities”.
“We are making to bring Nigeria back into reckoning in the agricultural export market which we have lost for decades as a result of poor quality control and subsequent rejection of our agricultural exports. We are bouncing back.
Ogbeh who has been championing revival of the nation’s agricultural system to achieve self sufficiency in food production, said “With the presidential order on dedication of Ports for agro-export by the Ease of Doing Business Committee, my ministry has engaged the NPA in maximising the utility of facilities at the Ikorodu terminal for that purpose. Nigerians ready to conform to standards and quality should come forward and avail themselves of the emerging opportunities in the agricultural export market”.
“But they need to align themselves to the reforms that the government is currently spearheading in this sector, for the good of their business and for Nigeria’s pride of place in the global market.
“Among a number of initiatives to fast-track these interventions and solidify our base, the federal government has empowered the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Services (NAQS), to make it more responsive to issues of safety and phytosanitary standards in food exports, so that its reports will be acceptable globally. This is to forestall the national embarrassments arising from the rejections of food exports on account of quality deficiency.
“The federal government has also put in place a standing committee, technically supported by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and consisting of membership from critical and relevant agencies of the federal government.
“The agencies are the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Customs Service, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), among others.
“These agencies, working with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) and the Federal Ministry of Finance, have commenced work on an export control plan to target our beans rejection and develop HS codes for other exportable commodities from Nigeria. The development of HS codes for agro commodities, currently in progress, will maximally aid traceability and effectiveness of the single window platform.
“The commitment of the Buhari administration to end the embarrassing rejection of Nigerian commodity and produce at the international market is irrevocable. The health of Nigerians is also paramount and the populace needs good quality food as well.
“There is nothing like Nigerian or local standards, but international standards to which we cannot but adhere in our local handling of food, consumption and export drive.
“This necessitated the establishment of the high-level standing inter-ministerial technical committee on zero reject of agricultural produce, co-chaired by me and my counterpart in the ministry of industry, trade and investment.
Though efforts to get the views of NPA as at press time failed, but industry analysts say with the reform driven leadership of the managing director, Hadiza Bala Usman, the deal may sail through as soon as possible.
