NAQS set to commence issuance of e-certificate

 National Coordinator, Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), Vincent Isegbe, has said the agency is at the verge of completing its Electronic Certification (e-certification) permit for export of agricultural commodities.

Isegbe said during a briefing, in Abuja that with the new initiative, the NAQS will check irregularities and fraudulent acts in the issuance of its certifications.

He said this became imperative following controversies surrounding the alleged rejection of Nigerian yams abroad, and need to sanitize the system.

Isegbe, who identified the significant role of NAQS officers at the border points and airport facilities in the country, said it is the responsibility of the Service to conduct regular checks on agricultural commodities either for exports or imports before exiting or entry into the nation’s boundary.

According to him, he had petitioned the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo on need to return the NAQS officers to the airport facilities following the Presidential order which restricted their activities, subjecting it to the airport security officers, who he claimed were incompetent and inexperienced.

Isegbe noted that at no point did the exporter of the rejected yam certified, stressing that they the NAQS don’t place label on cartons but only issue certificates.

“You can quote me anywhere, he has never said he subjected tat container of yam to the NAQS inspection.

“Aside, we at quarantine service don’t put label on cartons but we only issue certificates depending on the quantity and country of destination,” he added.

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