Nearly a third of Nigeria’s agricultural exports are turned back at foreign borders, draining value from a sector the government hopes will power non-oil growth.
Ofon Udofia, executive secretary of the Institute of Export Operations and Management Nigeria Limited, said so during a capacity-building programme reported by the News Agency of Nigeria.
Improper pesticide levels, insufficient moisture testing and weak documentation routinely trigger red flags abroad, undermining Nigeria’s credibility in competitive markets.
He said sesame seed recorded the highest rejection rate among exported produce.
As country seeks to deepen its foothold under frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area, the trend exposes structural weaknesses at home.
Exporters continue to grapple with poor handling, inadequate preservation and limited knowledge of international standards, problems that erode quality long before goods reach the port.
Ngozi Ibe, regional coordinator South-South of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, linked the high rejection rate to improper storage, substandard facilities and poor post-harvest management. According to her, significant volumes are lost or downgraded because produce is not stored under the right conditions.
Madu Inani, zonal coordinator at the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute, said incubation centers approved by his institute and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control are helping start-ups align with global regulatory requirements. The centres, he noted, provide guidance on processing, packaging and documentation to reduce avoidable infractions.
Udofia added that the stakes are high. Niche products such as fish bladder can fetch around $3,000 per kilogramme in international markets, while palm kernel cake commands roughly $300 per metric tonne. Yet these earnings remain vulnerable if exporters fail to close the quality gap.
