NEPC, NAFDAC Trains Non-oil Exporters to Checkmate Rejection of Agro Produce

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and National Association for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have partnered to address the high level of rejection faced by Nigerian products at the international market.

The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer NEPC, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, said the move is apt considering the numerous complaints received by the Council over Nigerian exporters not adhering to standard procedures and parameters.

Represented by the Regional Coordinator, Southwest, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Akintunde Folorunsho, at a one day stakeholders forum to address the rising issues of non-oil export rejects, she said the stakeholders programme is designed at seeking ways to mitigate non oil export reject while also increasing exporters’ capacity to export more.

“We are also training the exporters on how to double their exports and of course you know that the high level of rejection of Nigeria’s produce has been on the front burner,” she said.

Also speaking, the Deputy Director, Export Division, Ports Inspection Directorate, NAFDAC, said NAFDAC in its drive to facilitate export trade, it has put in place improved processes and systems for processing export of NAFDAC regulated products which is line with the federal government policy on diversification of the economy through the non-oil export sector and NAFDAC’s policy on zero export reject of regulated products in the international market.

On his part, the General Manager, Neroli Technologies Ltd Preshipmemt Inspection Agent (PIA), Ajayi Olatunde, said the Nigeria has been having issues with export of food due to the fact that they are laid down rules for exporting items at the global market, saying that Nigeria still has a lot of exporters who do not engage in what he described as “proper export”