The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) has intensified efforts to strengthen regulatory compliance and safeguard the nation’s agricultural economy, as it convened a high-level stakeholders’ meeting with fruit importers in Lagos.
The meeting, which held at the Marriott Hotel, Ikeja, brought together the Comptroller General of NAQS, Dr. Vincent Isegbe, key industry operators, and representatives of sister regulatory agencies involved in trade facilitation and border management.
According to a statement signed by the Officer-in-Charge, Media, DSQ R. Usman, the engagement was aimed at deepening collaboration with stakeholders, promoting adherence to established regulations, and ensuring safe, sustainable and compliant fruit importation into the country.
Speaking at the forum, Dr. Isegbe stressed that Nigeria must no longer be treated as a dumping ground for substandard agricultural produce. He warned against practices that amount to self-sabotage or the erection of avoidable obstacles to legitimate trade, noting that effective regulation and trade facilitation must go hand in hand.
The Comptroller General reaffirmed NAQS’ statutory responsibility as Nigeria’s National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO), assuring stakeholders of the Service’s unwavering commitment to protecting the agricultural value chain while supporting legitimate import activities that comply with international sanitary and phytosanitary standards.
Representing the Comptroller General of Customs, the Customs Area Comptroller, Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command, Comptroller Godwin Otunla, underscored the critical role of inter-agency collaboration in achieving seamless trade, effective border security and compliance with import regulations. He reiterated the Nigeria Customs Service’s support for NAQS in enforcing standards that protect national and economic interests.
Also speaking, the Assistant Director, Operations, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Mr. Omanayin Femi, who represented the Council’s Executive Secretary, Barrister Pius Akutah, pledged the Council’s continued support for NAQS operations. He highlighted the importance of NAQS in upholding sanitary and phytosanitary measures and strengthening Nigeria’s credibility within the global trading system.
The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Nigerian Ports Authority, including Mr. Onari-Brown Sovic, who represented the Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho.
At the close of deliberations, NAQS and the Association of Fruit Importers in Nigeria signed a communiqué, underscoring a shared commitment to regulatory compliance, sustained collaboration and the promotion of safe and responsible fruit importation practices across the country.
