The Federal Government has inaugurated a Technical Working Group (TWG) on Agricultural Produce Residue Standards to tackle the persistent rejection of Nigerian agricultural exports due to non-compliance with Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) and other international food safety requirements.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony held in Abuja, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, described the initiative as a significant step towards strengthening food safety and enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness in regional and global agricultural markets.
According to the Minister, the establishment of the Technical Working Group aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to ensure that Nigerian agricultural products not only meet production targets but also comply with internationally accepted quality and safety standards.
Dr. Abdullahi noted that Nigeria has, over the years, suffered repeated export rejections due to violations of Maximum Residue Limits and other sanitary and phytosanitary regulations imposed by importing countries.
He said the resulting economic losses have affected farmers, exporters and agribusinesses while undermining market confidence in Nigerian agricultural products.
“Growing concerns over pesticide residues, contaminants and food safety issues require a coordinated, science-based and multi-sectoral response. This underscores the need for the establishment of this Technical Working Group,” the Minister stated.
He explained that the TWG would serve as a strategic platform bringing together experts from government institutions, regulatory agencies, academia, research institutes, the private sector, commodity associations and development partners to develop sustainable solutions to residue management challenges.
The Minister charged members of the committee to leverage their expertise and experience to develop practical and implementable recommendations aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s food control systems, improving compliance with safe pesticide use practices and facilitating access to premium international markets.
He stressed that the group’s recommendations must be evidence-based, inclusive and aligned with global best practices while taking local realities into account.
According to him, the successful implementation of the committee’s recommendations will help safeguard public health, improve food quality and safety, increase export earnings and reduce post-harvest losses associated with market restrictions.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi, represented by the Director of the Federal Department of Agriculture, Mr. Bukar Musa, described agriculture as a critical pillar of Nigeria’s economy.
He warned that the increasing rejection of Nigerian agricultural exports poses a serious threat to the country’s export ambitions and the livelihoods of farmers and agribusiness operators.
The Permanent Secretary expressed confidence in the diverse expertise represented within the Technical Working Group, describing the inauguration as the beginning of a crucial journey toward establishing a robust agricultural produce residue management framework for Nigeria.
Responding on behalf of the committee, Chairman of the Technical Working Group, Prof. Lateef Oladimeji San, pledged the group’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural quality assurance systems.
He stated that the committee would focus on reviewing existing standards, harmonising national guidelines with international benchmarks and strengthening laboratory capacity for residue monitoring and enforcement.
Also speaking, the Director of the Plant Health and Pest Control Department, Mrs. Grace Iwendi, commended the Minister for his commitment to advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda through reforms aimed at improving agricultural productivity, quality assurance and food safety.
The Technical Working Group has been given a two-month timeline to submit its report and recommendations to the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security.
Its terms of reference include reviewing existing policies and frameworks on residue management, identifying relevant regulatory agencies, conducting nationwide assessments of pesticide residues and contaminants in priority crops, identifying regulatory and operational gaps, and proposing interventions to strengthen Nigeria’s residue management system.