A Nigerian yam exporter, Dr. Timothy Ijir, who is
based in the United States, has said that the US authorities did not reject any
yam exports from Nigeria.
He stated this in an interview with SUNDAY
PUNCH on Saturday.
He said, “I am the only person who has imported
Nigerian yams into the US and I can say without equivocation that they were not
rejected. Any statement to the contrary is false and misguided.
“Some of the statements and quotes credited to
the Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources are false. I am currently
working on importing my next consignment. Our US Department of Agriculture and
Food and Drug Administration import permit is still valid.”
Also, an expert in the agricultural sector, Prof.
Joseph Ukpabi, has accused the Federal Government of not carrying out proper
consultations before approving the exportation of yams from Nigeria to the
United States, China and the United Kingdom.
In June this year, Nigeria commenced yam export
to other countries as part of efforts aimed at reducing dependence on oil and
increasing its revenue from agriculture.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural
Development, Audu Ogbeh, however raised the alarm recently when he said
the US rejected yams from Nigeria because of their poor quality.
To avert a reoccurrence, he said the Federal
Government would increase its disciplinary measures against exporters that
would embarrass Nigeria by exporting substandard items.
Ukpabi, the Acting Director, National Root Crop
Research Institute, Umudieke, Imo State, said the Federal Government did
not involve the institute before commencing the exportation of yam to Europe
and the US.
Ukpabi said, “The problem associated with yam
export to Europe is due to improper consultation. We are the research institute
in charge of roots and tubers in Nigeria, but unfortunately, we were not
consulted before the yam exportation exercise started.
“The viruses that affect yam are numerous; so,
you need to know the varieties of yam that you are exporting. I am trying to
see the Minister of Agriculture to know what actually happened to the exported
yams and why they got spoilt before their transit to Europe.”
Nigeria produces not less than 60 per cent of the
world’s yam production, according to the Federal Government, but it does not
rank among the world’s highest exporters of the crop.
The government, it was learnt, had directed some
of its agencies to ensure that yams exported were properly checked and
certified.
Some of the agencies involved in the whole
process are the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control,
Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Airports Authority
of Nigeria, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Nigerian Export Promotion Council,
among others.
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