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The Federal government is tackling the rejection of Nigeria’s export products in some parts of the global economic system as an emergency with stringent measures to mitigate the anomaly.
This was disclosed recently by Mr. Osita Aboloma, Chairman, National Quality Council under the Presidency in Abuja, through a press release issued by his chief of staff, Bola Fasina.
The statement reads; “The establishment of the National Quality Council to promote enhanced development, harmonization and rationalization of Nigeria’s Quality Infrastructure is part of measures put in place by the Federal Government to tackle and mitigate the constant rejection of Nigeria’s export products in the international market “.
Stressing the need for greater synergy among organizations and institutions in public and private sectors hosting the National Quality Infrastructure, Aboloma was optimistic that the various aspects of quality infrastructure would ensure cost effectiveness and efficiency in support of the acceptance of Nigeria’s export products around the world.
Reacting to recent assertion by NAFDAC Director-General that 70 percent of Nigeria’s food exports are rejected in Europe and America, the National Quality Council chief executive averred that sanitary and phytosanitary requirements are some key issues to be surmounted to avoid the constant reject of the products.
On reports of some Nigerian importers shipping goods to neighbouring West African countries like Ghana for certification to enhance export value, the statement described the practice as “unacceptable”, explaining that “the solution lies in accelerated development, rationalization and harmonization of the Nation’s quality infrastructure for optimum value addition”.
Countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa that have promoted harmonized quality infrastructure are said to be reaping benefits of their action in huge inflow of foreign exchange from unhindered exports.
Declaring that the National Quality Council would work assiduously to promote industry access to conformity assessment services that are affordable and acceptable globally, Aboloma admonished Nigerian exporters to take optimum advantage of machinery put in place by his establishment to mitigate rejection of Nigerian-made products.
Stakeholders were assured of the council’s preparedness to work seamlessly and in close collaboration with them to “promote efficient and effective service delivery as well as overall economic emancipation in order to benefit immensely from the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement”.
Report by Patrick Wemambu
