NAQS probes shipment of Hibiscus flower containers without certification

The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) said it is investigating the shipment of a two-container load of Hibiscus flower into America without a phytosanitary certificate and other necessary documents.

The NAQS Director General, Vincent Isiegbe who disclosed this said the containers were shipped to America and were returned to Nigeria because the agro commodity does not have any documented paper from Nigeria, as the goods were intercepted by the agency at the port. He said the agency has not been able to arrest the person that committed the crime, as the address presented was not traceable.

Isiegbe while speaking during a media parley organised by NAQS said the agency is trying to partner with the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarders in Nigeria (CRIFFIN) to avoid dealing with fake forwarding and clearing agents.

He said by partnering with the council, NAQS will only deal with agents that are duly registered with the council so as to avoid cases whereby produce are returned due to some fake agents that do not pass through the quarantine service at the ports nor have the necessary phytosanitary certificate.

The DG said: “We are worried that some of these infractions by exporters can make the European Union flag the country, and if Nigeria is flagged, that means that about 27 member nations of the EU will not be willing to do business with Nigeria. The NAQS boss stressed the need for the exporters to alert the quarantine agency on the information about the goods being exported.