The federal government says the European Union and the United States of America’s export ban on Nigerian beans remains but hopes it will be lifted soon.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammad Abubakar, disclosed this during the Standing Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee (SIMTC) briefing on Agro Zero Reject Initiative on Thursday in Abuja.

The SIMTC was inaugurated on February 28, 2021, with the mandate of ensuring that the European Union (EU) ban on the export of Nigerian beans was lifted.

In 2015, the EU banned the importation of Nigerian beans on account of containing a high level of pesticide, considered harmful to health.

The minister made the statement based on the current effort of the committee to ensure that the international market accepts Nigerian agricultural produce.

“There is no doubt that Nigeria cannot realise its potential unless we do the right thing; work together first of all, and also realise and understand dealing with other agencies, private sector and governments across the world,” said the minister. “It is not an easy task doing export business, there are a lot of regulations, and unless you start by putting your own home well, you will not be able to work outside.”

Mr Abubakar added, “If we want to make headway, we must come down and learn to work with one another, and that really needs to be done to achieve success. It is not about trading but getting Nigeria out of being banned from Europe, America and other countries.”

The Federal Department of Agriculture (FDA) director, Abdullahi Abubakar, explained that “before the ban, several unheeded notifications were sent to Nigerian authorities.”

The FDA director noted that “to lift the ban, EU wanted Nigeria to control her export and provide substantial evidence that the necessary food safety requirements and protocols are put in place.”

According to him, the IECP is a five-year action plan for all sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agencies and critical stakeholders.

“Also, to provide substantive guarantee required by EU that the SPS bodies in Nigeria put food safety protocols in place in line with the international standard,” Mr Abubakar added. “Few private companies have agreed to key into the implementation of the pilot Action Plan that would get the ban on our beans lifted and pave the way for admitting Nigeria produce for export.”

(NAN)