Over 70% of the food exported from Nigeria is rejected overseas, according to Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Speaking at the ceremonial opening of the new NAFDAC office complex at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Adeyeye said that the food’s rejection had cost the exporters and the nation a significant amount of money.
To solve the issue, she demanded cooperation at the ports between NAFDAC and other organizations.
Adeyere praised the police and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for their cooperation with the other two governmental organizations.
“More than 70% of the products that leave our ports are rejected,” she claimed. It is a double loss for the exporter and the nation given the money used to move such things out of the country.
“Let me emphasize the significance of agency synergy. Many of the things we have been able to achieve will not be possible without customs.
“Additionally, NAFDAC cannot do much in the way of enforcement and investigation without the police.
“Over 80 police officers are with us at NAFDAC. When we conduct raids or investigations, they are a huge assistance to us.”