FG tackles export reject as emergency – NQC Chairman

The establishment of the National Quality Council (NQC) to promote enhanced development, harmonization and rationalization of Nigeria’s Quality Infrastructure is part of measures put in place by the Federal Government to tackle and mitigate the constant rejectionofNigeria’sexport products in the international market which has become an emergency.

Chairman and Chief Executive of the NQC, Osita Aboloma who stated this inAbuja, posited that the various legs of the quality infrastructure, namely standards development, metrology, conformity assessment and accreditation require urgent harmonization and rationalization.

These, he said would ensure cost effectiveness and efficiency in support of theacceptanceofNigeria’s export products around the world.

Responding to questions on the recent assertion by the Director General, NAFDAC, ProfessorMojisola Adeyeye that 70percent of Nigeria’s food exports are rejected in EuropeandAmerica,Aboloma corroborated the statement, stating that sanitary and phytosanitaryrequirementsare some of the key issues to be surmounted to avoid the constant rejects.

The SPS requirements according to him, are quarantine and biosecurity measuresappliedtoprotect human, animal and plant life or health risks arising fromtheintroduction,establishment and spread of pests, diseases as well as from the use of additives, toxinsandcontaminants in food and feed.

 Aboloma alluded to a recent Vanguard Newspaper report of Nigerians shippinggoodstoGhana for certification to enhance export value as being unacceptable, stressingthatthesolution lies in accelerated development, rationalization and harmonization of theNation’squality infrastructure for optimum value addition.

He stressed the need for greater synergy amongst organizations and institutionsinthepublicand private sectors, hosting the National Quality Infrastructure as well as greater awarenesscreation for operators along the export value chain.

 According to him, the National Quality Council was created to implement the lettersandspiritof the approved Nigerian National Quality Policy (NNQP) document whichprovidesforefficient and effective management of regulatory responsibilities to achieveprotectionofsociety and the environment as well as transparent and reliable state-regulatorysystems,devoid of bureaucratic vagaries.

Others he said, include the provision of a supportive National Quality Infrastructure(NQI),which consists of Standards, Metrology, Accreditation and Conformity AssessmentServicesthat must be acceptable globally to enhance the competitiveness of productsandservicesmade in Nigeria.

Aboloma explained that Standards serve as benchmark for products andservicequality;metrology ensures accuracy of measurements in industry for both equipment andproducts;accreditation assures mutual recognition of competencies in Nigeria across borderswhileconformity assessment entails inspection and testing of products to meet destinationrequirements.

The NQC according to him is domiciled in the Presidency under the Office of theSecretarytothe Government of the Federation to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks in the dischargeofitsmandate like similar bodies in other parts of the world.

He stated that countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa that havepromotedharmonized quality infrastructure are reaping the benefits in huge inflowof foreignexchangefrom unhindered exports, listing America, India, United Kingdom, Morocco, GhanaandKenyaas good examples.

Aboloma stated that the NQC would promote industry access to conformityassessmentservices that are affordable and acceptable globally so that Nigerian made productscanbemarketed under the motto: “Tested once, certified once, and accepted everywhere”.

 He emphasized that the Council would work to ensure that all Nigeria’s goods, servicesandpersons’ certification comply with relevant standards, technical regulations andapplicableaccredited conformity assessment requirements of domestic, regional andinternationalmarkets and yet be competitive.

These he said will affirm Nigeria’s leadershipintheAfricanContinental trade and better position its huge market and its people to benefit optimally.

The NQC Chairman admonished Nigerian Exporters to take optimumadvantageof theexistingquality infrastructure in the country, to save the Nation scarce foreign exchange, increasetheefficiency of the export value chain and mitigate the rejection of Nigerianmadeproductsacross regional, continental and international borders.

Aboloma assured Stakeholders of the National Quality Council’s preparednesstoworkseamlessly and in close collaboration with all stakeholders in the public andprivatesectorsto ensure rapid improvement in the Nation’s quality infrastructure.

 This he said will promote efficient and effective service delivery as well as overall economicemancipation, in order to benefit immensely from the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.

The NQC Chairman appealed for maximum cooperation from all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of Government, the organized private sector groups, developmentpartnersand all other stakeholders in quality related activities to assist the Council achieveitsmandate aimed at improved competitiveness of made-in-Nigeria goods andservicesintheglobal market.