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Food Export Rejection: Nigeria Seeks Reversal Of N539bn Losses … – Leadership News

The federal government is set to reverse about N539billion ($700million) that the country was losing annually to rejection of its agro-produce in Europe and America, LEADERSHIP has  learnt.The chairman, African Export–Import Bank (Afrixembank), Prof. Benedict Oramah, had, in December 2022, disclosed that Nigeria suffered a loss estimated at $700 million annually over rejected agro-produce.According to him, “due to poor quality, over $700 million worth of agro-produce are rejected from Europe alone. Similarly, about 76 per cent of exports from Africa are rejected annually.”To address this and recoup N539billion loss to constant rejection of Nigeria’s export products in the international market, which has become an emergency  the federal government has established an agency known as the National Quality Council (NQC).The new agency is set) to ensure that agricultural produce, among others, exported into the international market meet standard and will not suffer rejection. Using the valuation of N770 to a dollar traded at the I&E window on Monday as a benchmark, $700million annual loss, meant to be recoup back into the economy, translates to N539billion. The agency is also to promote enhanced development, harmonisation and rationalisation of Nigeria’s Quality Infrastructure. Reacting on this development in Abuja, the chairman and chief executive of NQC, Osita Aboloma, posited that, the various legs of the quality infrastructure, namely; standards development, metrology, conformity assessment and accreditation require urgent harmonisation and rationalisation.These, he said, would ensure cost effectiveness and efficiency in support of the acceptance of Nigeria’s export products around the world.Responding to questions on the recent assertion by the director general, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Mojisola Adeyeye that 70 per cent of Nigeria’s food exports are rejected in Europe and America, Aboloma corroborated the statement, adding that, sanitary and phytosanitary requirements are some of the key issues to be surmounted to avoid the constant rejects.The SPS requirements, according to him, are quarantine and biosecurity measures applied to protect human, animal and plant life or health risks arising from the introduction, establishment and spread of pests, diseases as well as from the use of additives, toxins and contaminants in food and feed.Aboloma alluded to a recent media report of Nigerians shipping goods to Ghana for certification to enhance export value as being unacceptable, stressing that, the solution lies in accelerated development, rationalisation and harmonisation of the nation’s quality infrastructure for optimum value addition.He stressed the need for greater synergy amongst organisations and institutions in the public and private sectors, hosting the National Quality Infrastructure as well as greater awareness creation for operators along the export value chain.According to him, NQC was created to implement the letters and spirit of the approved Nigerian National Quality Policy (NNQP) document which provides for efficient and effective management of regulatory responsibilities to achieve protection of society and the environment as well as transparent and reliable state-regulatory systems, 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 Assessment Services that must be acceptable globally to enhance the competitiveness of products and services made in Nigeria.Aboloma explained that, Standards serve as benchmark for products and service quality; metrology ensures accuracy of measurements in industry for both equipment and products; accreditation assures mutual recognition of competencies in Nigeria across borders while conformity assessment entails inspection and testing of products to meet destination requirements.The NQC, according to him, is domiciled in the presidency under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks in the discharge of its mandate like similar bodies in other parts of the world.He stated that countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa that have promoted harmonised quality infrastructure are reaping the benefits in huge inflow of foreign exchange from unhindered exports, listing America, India, United Kingdom, Morocco, Ghana and Kenya as good examples.Aboloma stated that the NQC would promote industry access to conformity assessment services that are affordable and acceptable globally so that Nigerian made products can be marketed under the motto: ‘Tested once, certified once, and accepted everywhere.’The NQC chairman admonished Nigerian Exporters to take optimum advantage of the existing quality infrastructure in the country, to save the nation scarce foreign exchange, increase the efficiency of the export value chain and mitigate the rejection of Nigerian made products across regional, continental and international borders.This, he said, will promote efficient and effective service delivery as well as overall economic emancipation, in order to benefit immensely from the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.

The federal government is set to reverse about N539billion ($700million) that the country was losing annually to rejection of its agro-produce in Europe and America, LEADERSHIP has  learnt.

The chairman, African Export–Import Bank (Afrixembank), Prof. Benedict Oramah, had, in December 2022, disclosed that Nigeria suffered a loss estimated at $700 million annually over rejected agro-produce.

According to him, “due to poor quality, over $700 million worth of agro-produce are rejected from Europe alone. Similarly, about 76 per cent of exports from Africa are rejected annually.”

To address this and recoup N539billion loss to constant rejection of Nigeria’s export products in the international market, which has become an emergency  the federal government has established an agency known as the National Quality Council (NQC).

The new agency is set) to ensure that agricultural produce, among others, exported into the international market meet standard and will not suffer rejection. 

Using the valuation of N770 to a dollar traded at the I&E window on Monday as a benchmark, $700million annual loss, meant to be recoup back into the economy, translates to N539billion. 

The agency is also to promote enhanced development, harmonisation and rationalisation of Nigeria’s Quality Infrastructure. 

Reacting on this development in Abuja, the chairman and chief executive of NQC, Osita Aboloma, posited that, the various legs of the quality infrastructure, namely; standards development, metrology, conformity assessment and accreditation require urgent harmonisation and rationalisation.

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

Responding to questions on the recent assertion by the director general, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Mojisola Adeyeye that 70 per cent of Nigeria’s food exports are rejected in Europe and America, Aboloma corroborated the statement, adding that, sanitary and phytosanitary requirements are some of the key issues to be surmounted to avoid the constant rejects.

The SPS requirements, according to him, are quarantine and biosecurity measures applied to protect human, animal and plant life or health risks arising from the introduction, establishment and spread of pests, diseases as well as from the use of additives, toxins and contaminants in food and feed.

Aboloma alluded to a recent media report of Nigerians shipping goods to Ghana for certification to enhance export value as being unacceptable, stressing that, the solution lies in accelerated development, rationalisation and harmonisation of the nation’s quality infrastructure for optimum value addition.

He stressed the need for greater synergy amongst organisations and institutions in the public and private sectors, hosting the National Quality Infrastructure as well as greater awareness creation for operators along the export value chain.

According to him, NQC was created to implement the letters and spirit of the approved Nigerian National Quality Policy (NNQP) document which provides for efficient and effective management of regulatory responsibilities to achieve protection of society and the environment as well as transparent and reliable state-regulatory systems, 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 Assessment Services that must be acceptable globally to enhance the competitiveness of products and services made in Nigeria.

Aboloma explained that, Standards serve as benchmark for products and service quality; metrology ensures accuracy of measurements in industry for both equipment and products; accreditation assures mutual recognition of competencies in Nigeria across borders while conformity assessment entails inspection and testing of products to meet destination requirements.

The NQC, according to him, is domiciled in the presidency under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks in the discharge of its mandate like similar bodies in other parts of the world.

He stated that countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa that have promoted harmonised quality infrastructure are reaping the benefits in huge inflow of foreign exchange from unhindered exports, listing America, India, United Kingdom, Morocco, Ghana and Kenya as good examples.

Aboloma stated that the NQC would promote industry access to conformity assessment services that are affordable and acceptable globally so that Nigerian made products can be marketed under the motto: ‘Tested once, certified once, and accepted everywhere.’

The NQC chairman admonished Nigerian Exporters to take optimum advantage of the existing quality infrastructure in the country, to save the nation scarce foreign exchange, increase the efficiency of the export value chain and mitigate the rejection of Nigerian made products across regional, continental and international borders.

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

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Southern Africa

CCC rubbishes MPs and councillors recalls, says it’s Zanu PF’s “pathetic attempt” to respond to SONA boycott – New Zimbabwe.com

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By Reason Razao | Senior Reporter


Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) has dismissed reports of recalls by one Sengezo Tshabangu saying he is an impostor and has never been a member of the opposition party.

This follows the recall of 15 CCC MPs and 17 councillors by Tshabangu, a former member of MDC-T and PDP.

According to the letter that was addressed to the Speaker Of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, Tshabangu had recalled Nicola Watson, Pashor Sibanda and Ereck Gono among others saying they were no longer members of the CCC.

Tshabangu is also believed to have signed letters that resulted in CCC double candidates in Bulawayo during the Nomination Court.

“It has come to the attention of the Citizens Coalition for Change that there are letters purportedly written by a person designating himself as interim secretary General circulating on social media claiming that the Citizens’ Movement has recalled named councillors and members of Parliament,” said party spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi in a statement posted on X.

“Members of the public are advised to disregard these with the contempt they deserve. The CCC party has neither recalled nor does it intend to recall any of its recently elected deployees.

“The purported author of the two letters, Sengezo Tshabangu is not and has never been a

member or official of the CCC party since its inception. His last known parties are MDCT and PDP. He is renowned for being the proxy of fielding fake CCC double candidates in Bulawayo and Matebeleland North. The Citizens’ Movement is taking action against this impostor and all his contacts.”

CCC accused Zanu PF of trying to infiltrate their ranks.

“This deplorable behavior by Zanu PF is a response to their defeat in 2023 and rejection Zimbabwe and a pathetic attempt to respond to the exercise of our freedom of association in not attending the official opening of parliament yesterday (03 October 2023).

“Meanwhile, our deployees in local authorities and Parliament should continue to discharge their responsibilities as mandated by the electorate in the just ended elections,” Mkwananzi added.

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Southern Africa

‘Controversial’ economist Gift Mugano fired from ZimTrade Board; hints at contesting his removal – New Zimbabwe.com

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By Staff Reporter


ECONOMIST Gift Mugano has been fired from the ZimTrade Board for allegedly making disparaging remarks against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration over the faltering economy.

He is also accused of siding with Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) led by Nelson Chamisa amid claims by presidential spokesperson George Charamba that he drafted the CCC’s 2023 elections manifesto, allegations that he swiftly rejected.

In a letter addressed to Mugano, Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, James Manzou said the termination of Mugano’s membership from the ZimTrade Board was with immediate effect.

“I wish to inform you that the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade has terminated your membership from the ZimTrade Board in terms of Article 10 of the Constitution of ZimTrade as read with Section 16 of the Public Entities and Corporate Governance Act (Chapter 10:31). The termination is with immediate effect.

“I wish to thank you for the services rendered to the Board and the Ministry and to wish you well in your future endeavours,” wrote Manzou.

ZimTrade is a joint venture between the Government of Zimbabwe and the private sector to promote local exports.

Section 16 of the Public Entities and Corporate Governance Act (Chapter 10:31) provides for the appointment and removal of board members of public entities.

The section outlines the grounds for the removal of board members, which include misconduct or incompetence, failure to attend board meetings without reasonable cause, conflict of interest, and conviction of a criminal offence, among others.

In his brief response on X, Mugano hinted he won’t go down without a fight.

“Fired from the ZimTrade Board by the appointing authority before the end of my term. This is part of the strategies of Government of Zimbabwe aimed at silencing alternative voices. It will not work on me. Zimbabwe is for us all and our views matter,” he said.

In recent weeks, Mugano has been critical of the government’s economic policies.

His last post on X prior to his axing, Mugano wrote a long thread criticising Zanu PF for failing to fix the economy and mocking Mnangagwa for the snub by opposition legislators during the official opening of the 10th Parliament Tuesday.

“I am trying to frame how the economy will look like going forward – all I see is darkness. Let me break this down for the layman: How possible is it for the GoZ to pursue international engagement which is key to driving economic development when at home the same govt is harassing the opposition?

“Yesterday, @CCCZimbabwe MPs didn’t attend the official opening of Parliament by @edmnangagwa rendering the whole process to a Zanu PF caucus.

“Of significance is the fact that millions of Zimbabweans, that is, both those who voted @CCCZimbabwe and those who couldn’t vote for various reasons but have a CCC DNA are in support of this move and will continue to have these kind of protests in the future.

“It is given that going forward national consensus on national developmental issues will be elusive.”

Over the years, Mugano represented the country at various forums on trade negotiations and investment missions abroad (Heads of State & Government Summits, Council of Ministers, Senior Officials of Trade & Technical Committees) at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels.

He has done consultancy for DFID, British Council, the Parliament of Zimbabwe, NIR Sweden, GIZ and UNFPA.

At one time he served as interim board chairman of struggling ZiscoSteel before resigning in June 2020 citing interference by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube, and was registrar at Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University (ZEGU).

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Agriculture

Bayhorse Mine accident: 6 still trapped, 7 missing as rescue … – New Zimbabwe.com

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