TheCable

Niyi Adebayo, minister of industry, trade and investment, has inaugurated a committee to end the rejection of Nigeria’s exported agricultural commodities in the global market.

Adebayo inaugurated the 10-member committee in Abuja, on Thursday.

In September, 2022, the minister pledged that the government would execute the recommendations of a technical committee set up to examine the rejection of agro-exports from Nigeria.

Speaking at the inauguration, he said the team was expected to implement the recommendations of the technical committee in record time.

“It would be recalled that on 16th September, 2022 I received the report submitted by members of the technical committee on Nigeria agro-export reject with recommendations aimed at addressing the challenges of rejection of our agro-exports at the international market,” Adebayo said.

“Suffice it to state that a number of activities have been outlined to implement the recommendations of the technical committee and it is the task of the implementation committee to diligently ensure that they are properly articulated for the growth and development of the export sub-sector of the economy.

“As the assignment has reached a crucial stage, I wish to urge members of the committee to rededicate themselves to be able to accomplish this urgent national assignment in good time.”

Adebayo urged the committee members to consider themselves fortunate and worthy of the assignment and realise the dream of stopping the rejection of Nigeria’s agro-commodities.

On his part, Ezra Yakusak, chairman of the implementation committee and executive director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), said implementing the recommendations would provide lasting solutions to the numerous challenges bedeviling the development of the non-oil export sub-sector.