From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Acting Controller General, Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Services (NAQS), Dr Godwin Audu, has made a case for his officers to bear arms as they often work in remote areas where they fight smugglers , illegal exporters and other criminals. He said the officers will be able to protect themselves and carry out their duties without fear of intimidation if armed.
Audu also raised concerns over longstanding inter-agency wrangling, describing it as an obstacle to the country’s economic prosperity. He called on the Federal Government to urgently streamline the mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the inspection of agro produce for export.
In this interview, he also spoke on the country’s battered image in terms of smuggling of substandard agro commodities and the ban by the European Union (EU).
He said he was liaising with the EU to lift the ban with the pledge to correct the anomalies.
Over the years, we have had issues regarding the export of substandard agro produce. What are you doing to sanitise the system?
Our intention here is to further sensitise our exporters and stakeholders to always try to get relevant documents. We cannot stop anybody from exportation. The boomerang effect is what will affect the exporters, especially when you do not have the proper documentation. Of course, it is expected that it will be rejected. The phytosanitary and sanitary certifications are very vital to importing countries. That is the place you are taking your goods to. We need to see all these documentations to know that this thing has actually gone through certification, otherwise it is bound to be rejected. So, we always tell our exporters and stakeholders generally, to make sure that they go to the quarantine service to get proper certification before they can export. Otherwise it will be at their own peril to just take out goods from the country.
Why are we exporting agro produce when we do not have enough to feed ourselves as a country? Are we exporting for the mere showmanship?
To be sincere with you, if not for the insecurity that is rampant in the country, we should be having enough food to export especially when it comes to grains, yams and rice. We are supposed to be exporting because we have enough food in the land. But insecurity has dampened the morale of most farmers that people cannot go to the farms anymore, to farm enough. Notwithstanding, we could still be able to export some goods and still have enough to consume within the country.
What are you doing to lift the ban slammed on Nigeria by the European Union because of the export of low quality goods?
What we are actually doing now is that we are trying liaise with the EU to see how we can further improve and know exactly what they want. Because at times, it is this residue issue that is always coming up. When they have high level of this residue pesticides or chemical residues in our commodities that is when they are bound to be rejected. But if we know the level, we will know what to do. Already, we are studying with them through a platform to agree on that and I think it is almost achievable. We are already talking. Before you know it, most of these things will be unbanned very soon. Because once we arrive at that threshold of what they want and they are satisfied, we will not have any such problems.
How far have you go with the negotiation?
I think we have gone a long way. Seriously speaking, we have done 90% of the negotiation. Sooner or later, everything will be okay. We have done 90% because our men are actually on the field doing the necessary testing and certification to make sure that anything to be exported must have gone through the due process of the export certification value chain.
The issue of donkey ban and export has continued to reverberate. Donkey traders have been at loggerheads with the government. What is the true position of things?
The problem we have is that the government has placed a ban on the killing of donkeys. Before now, people were busy eating donkey meat. Nobody knew that there was going to be an interest in donkey skin. It was later we discovered that foreigners were interested in the skin know as the hides. In doing so, the population of the donkey was diminishing. In fact, it was almost going into extinction. Government decided to say no. No more killing of donkeys. Otherwise, it will go into extinction. Also, worldwide, it is prohibited to kill donkeys indiscriminately for the purpose of trade. So, there is a ban on it. Nobody should kill donkey indiscriminately anymore.
What is the sanction for people who illegally export agro produce?
Based on the mandate that NAQS has, we either penalise you or seize your goods. If you go against the laws of quarantine when it comes to exportation by not having the requisite documents, you will be held responsible for whatever comes to you. We can seize your goods, we can destroy them. We can burn them. We can prosecute even the individual or hand you over to the police for prosecution. That is the law. That is what NAQS can do. So, we explore by going about sending our enforcement and operational units out because we get information. Once we get information we will work on such information because most of these things are done in interior bushes. Where we have these slaughterhouses are not within the town; they are situated in interior places. You have to be armed to go into different parts of the country to see where they are carrying out illegal deals. So, we normally go to raid with our operational units in conjunction with the police.
How many persons have your prosecuted so far?
Presently, it is either two or three that are in court. I was also meant to understand that a Chinese man was involved at one point because they also come to do this illegal trading within the country. They are also part and parcel of the illegality that is going on in the country. So, we try to go after them to see how we can limit these anti-government policies.
Are you well equipped to go about your activities?
Just as I said, because we do not have much manpower, we go in conjunction with the police. Most times we raid with the police attached to the Quarantine offices. We can go to any part of the country, like the North East, South South etc. In fact, any part of the country that we hear of illegal export, we raid. Once they are confiscated we bring them down for prosecution or destruction or whatever. Because at times you will not even find the culprits because they would have fled outside the vicinity.
Are you proposing that your men should be allowed to bear arms to fight illegal exporters?
It will be very fantastic. We do not mind proposing it. I, as a person, has not put it forward. Well, I do not know whether my predecessor did that. I am presently acting. Such a proposal has to go through series of channels by going through the National Security Adviser, the National Assembly for approval, and then the presidential assent for us to be armed. Since we work in remote and difficult terrains, where we deal with smugglers and border areas, we need to be armed. The proposal, if not done, will be done. It is one of the agencies that needs to be armed because our activities are not far-fetched from the Nigeria Customs. We go after smugglers who contravene government policies as well.
Are we still having exporters trooping to your office given the high cost of agro produce in the country and economic hardship?
With the hard situation on the ground that everyone can see, basically it has diminished unlike before when activities were flourishing. Presently, things are difficult for virtually everybody. Farmers cannot go to the farm for exporters to aggregate before talking about exports. So, everything is difficult for everybody. Notwithstanding, exportation of agricultural produce is still going on. We are seeing some movements, you know, especially hibiscus flower that is being moved to Mexico on a monthly basis. Although, the President said we should put a ban on the exportation of our grains for now, because of the issue on the ground. So, for now, there is no exportation of grains. We need to have enough food within the country until things improve then we can encourage export. Because our agricultural commodities are really needed outside. We have to follow the Executive Order.
How long will the ban last?
I am not in the position to say that. It is only the government that can make that pronouncement. I think it is when everything has settled down. You can see how warehouses are being attacked, stripped open for people who are hoarding goods. That should be avoided for now.
Is the Executive Order not affecting the country’s economy in term of foreign exchange?
You have to solve your internal problems first. You have to be realistic with yourself. Solve your internal problems before you can talk about external issues. Basically, let us see how the country can solve its internal problems. Let there be enough food and internal security for people to move around. Those are the priorities of government for now. If people cannot farm how can we have enough food production? We cannot have enough food production in the country. So we need to have enough and that is the inclusiveness the government is talking about.
What are the approved items that can be exported?
We are expected to export food products like beans, yam, cotton and cocoa. These are exportable products. We have others like ginger, sesame, cashew nuts especially from the North Central area. Even onions. We produce a lot of onions, milk, eggs. Our poultry farms produce a lot of eggs, too. With a serene environment all these things are feasible.
What is the duration for exports after certification?
There are so many bottlenecks, my brother. There are so many bottlenecks in terms of exportation, especially when every agency thinks he or she has a mandate to exercise a particular power. These are the things that cause delay for exportation. If at all it was left for the Quarantine alone, it would have been better. It is only NAQS that is actually recognized internationally, because of its counterpart agreement and sanitary measures that it has with other European countries. It is supposed to be the front liners. But because of inter-agency wrangling, everybody wants to be important. Everybody wants to certify. And before you know it, they might even contaminate the goods already certified by NAQS. By the time you know, the goods are rejected. So, the delay most times is not caused by NAQS. Quarantine can give you the go ahead. Once they give you certification you are free to go. But if other agencies decide to start coming into it, of course, you are bound to have delays and it might cost you 2 to weeks and even a month before you can leave the country, which is not too good for us, especially for perishable goods, like vegetables.
You know our vegetables are, really welcomed outside. You have to containerize them properly. So, it does not need to waste time.
Even by ship, it still has to go through the process.
Which agencies are encroaching into your terrain?
The agencies know themselves. They are at the point of entry and exit. So most of the agencies know themselves.
Are you referring to the Nigerian Customs?
I do not have to call names. They know themselves. If they are not given full fledged cooperation, what do you expect? Especially when they know that things have been certified by the Quarantine who has the mandate with the international body. What we do outside is the phytosanitary and once they see and know that quarantine has examine it, it is fine. But when they are contaminated by other agencies, it becomes a problem.
You sound helpless. Why haven’t you petition the presidency to streamline your responsibilities?
They are all government agencies. They will tell you that they have the mandate. You do not have to say bring mandate for me to see. It is left for the Federal Government to intervene and say look if you do not have such a mandate, do not interfere. That will be a better pronouncement from the Federal Government. NAFDAC can come in for inspection and certification as well. NAQS basically deals with raw and semi raw products. NAFDAC can deal with finished products. But whereby NAFDAC starts delving into raw products or semi road products that means they are infringing into the quarantine activities. I just give you a sample of NAFDAC. Other agency can come in for different reasons. Customs can come in for different reasons. NDLEA can come in for different reasons. SON can come in for a different reason. So, you become helpless. They will tell you that they are government agencies, too.
But as an agency, is there nothing you can do?
I guess my predecessor did one or two things to that effect. It is not really clear to me. So, I wouldn’t know whether to start afresh or to look for the file that has anything to do with inter-agency rivalry and to take it up from there. That is another best option for me.
What is your recommended transportation means for agro export?
As I said, if it is maintained in a good container definitely it will be sustained.
So, it depends on the exporter on which is cheaper for him. Airfare is faster but may be more expensive. Also, it depends on the quantity you are exporting. So it is a win-win situation as long as you code chain is maintained.
How much does Nigeria generate from export?
From the record I have here, during the boom of hibiscus flower exportation, it was reported that cocoa, beans, sesame seeds and cashew nuts generated close to N279 billion in revenue. I cannot specify the date. But there is a particular period that such amount was generated. Truly speaking, we generate a lot of money, especially with the recent market that we got in Mexico on hibiscus flower. A lot of funds have been generated through that means.
Which country patronises goods from Nigeria the most?
It depends on the goods, if they are well certified, most countries still patronise Nigerian goods and they meet international standards. It is only a few that had problems that were banned.
What are the requirements for exportation of our goods?
It depends on the pesticides content and how well you have handled it. There is minimum residue which is 0.001 per kilogram. So, if you can test your goods to that level, then it is a standard for most countries. Your goods will be accepted. Testing through the laboratories and carrying out samples, making sure they are properly done and you have a report on it. Once it goes out, it is also tested there to ascertain that it is true.
How much does NAQS charge for inspection?
Do we really charge? We don’t. We are an agency of government. Once the association is ready for inspection they send a memo to us, we deploy our officers for inspection. At times, it depends on the logistics to go for inspection.
Is it that individuals are not allowed to export without going through an associate?
Association can make it difficult for individuals. But it is way of regulating and organising themselves because of the outside market, so that even outside, if you do not belong to that association your goods will not be accepted. So, you have to fall into an association. Some individuals are trying to break ranks if they have their own direct customers.
Do you have enough laboratories to certify goods
Presently, we are building our laboratories. We intend to strengthen it this year with our annual budget. We have close to four in Lagos, Ibadan, Port Harcourt and Abuja. We just upgraded the one in the headquarters for simple sampling. We will make a publication very soon. Instead of going to private laboratories to carry out some tests, we do it ourselves within the agency.
How do you certify goods outside of where the laboratories are located?
We take samples. That is why they are close by.