Nigeria’s Agricultural Quarantine Service Unveils Certification Value Chain to Ease Export Process

The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) has introduced its Certification Value Chain (ECVC) for 30 agricultural commodities, designed to simplify the export process and align with the federal government’s National Single Window (NSW) Project. This move aims to streamline trade facilitation and promote ease of doing business in Nigeria.

According to Dr. Vincent Isegbe, Comptroller General of NAQS, the ECVC is a crucial step towards achieving the NSW project’s objectives. During a recent working visit by the management of National Single Window in Abuja, Isegbe emphasized the importance of cooperation among relevant agencies to ensure the success of the project.

Tola Fakolade, Head of the Project Secretariat for the NSW, and Pius Anyiador, project co-lead, outlined the objectives of the visit, highlighting NAQS’s key role in the project. Isegbe assured the project team of NAQS’s cooperation and called on all relevant agencies to align with government policies and programs that promote ease of doing business in Nigeria.

The NAQS has successfully automated the process for obtaining phytosanitary certifications through the ePhyto system, making it easier for exporters to access the market. This move is expected to boost Nigeria’s agricultural exports and contribute to the country’s economic growth.

The NSW project, launched by the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, in August, aims to streamline port clearing processes and drive economic growth. With the introduction of the ECVC, NAQS is poised to play a vital role in achieving this goal.

The ECVC is a significant development in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, as it aims to reduce trade barriers and increase exports. The country’s agricultural sector has the potential to drive economic growth, and initiatives like the ECVC will help to unlock this potential.