The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has highlighted Nigeria’s decline in the agricultural export markets due to failure to meet the sanitary and phytosanitary requirements of foreign markets. Despite ample arable lands and increased investments, Nigeria has shifted from being a net exporter to a net importer of agricultural produce previously cultivated domestically, undermining efforts towards food sustainability.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of WTO, revealed this during the launch of seven trade support programmes in Abuja. These initiatives, including the Standards Trade Development Facility and Digital Trade Initiative support, aim to strengthen food safety standards, address e-commerce challenges, and enhance trade-related data management in Nigeria.
Okonjo-Iweala emphasized the importance of addressing trade-related barriers to unlock Nigeria’s agricultural export potential. She noted that Nigerian cowpea and sesame exports have faced rejections in destination markets due to non-compliance with international standards, resulting in loss of revenue and market opportunities.
To tackle these challenges, the WTO is collaborating with stakeholders to enhance the capacity of the cowpeas and sesame value chains. This project, backed by $1.2 million funding, aims to improve agricultural practices and ensure compliance with market access requirements.
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The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Aniete, highlighted the government’s commitment to facilitating trade and investment by implementing policies to remove bottlenecks hindering economic growth. Additionally, she mentioned the rollout of the N50 billion Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme through the Bank of Industry to support various economic players.
