The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) is leading an Inter-Agency team to the United Kingdom (UK) as part of strategic to curb the incidences of export rejects.
According to a statement signed by the Head, Corporate Communications, NEPC, Ndubueze Okeke and made available to Channel Network Afrique, CNA, the fact-finding mission is part of government’s renewed effort to address the issue which has constituted a major constraint to the growth of the non-oil export sector of the Nigerian economy.
The stated that the Executive Director, NEPC, Ezra Yakusak who led the team expressed dismay over cases of rejection as it has resulted in stricter inspection regime on Nigerian exports in the importing countries adding that in some cases, it led to the suspension or ban of some exported products.
“It also attracts unfavourable international media attention, gives the country a negative image as well as constitutes financial burden to the exporters who have to bear the cost of either reshipping the banned product to Nigeria or destroying the product” he said.
The objective of the 5 – day visit is according to the statement is to provide Nigerian export-regulatory and facilitating agencies the opportunity of observing the processes of agricultural commodities import procedures and interface with Port Health and Food Import Regulatory Agencies at the Border Control Points (BCPs) in the UK.
Noting that other areas to be visited by the team are, Southampton Port (the second busiest port in UK), Spitafield Market – a one-stop aggregation and distribution centre for imported food in the UK as well as the Food Standards Agency (FDA), the parliament among others.
The statement further noted that the team had held an interactive session with some Nigerian food importers in UK as part of effort to address the challenges encountered in importing food items from Nigeria to UK.
The Agencies participating on the fact-finding mission include, National Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and the National Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO).
Others are, Skypower Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL), Federal Produce Inspection Service (FPIS) and Federation of Agricultural Commodities Association of Nigeria (FACAN).
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) Otunba Niyi Adebayo, recently received the report and recommendations of the Technical Committee he inaugurated to address the incidences of export rejects as well as proffer solutions to the problem.