Dr. Godwin Sunday Audu, the newly appointed Comptroller for the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), has promised to make life and business easier for agro exporters.
Following the expiration of Dr. Vincent Isegbe’s term on December 12, 2023, Dr. Audu, the Deputy Comptroller General (DCG) of Quarantine, has assumed the role of acting Comptroller-General for the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS).
In a recent press conference at the Abuja headquarters, Dr. Audu expressed gratitude to the pioneer Comptroller General, acknowledging his remarkable contributions in establishing a robust foundation for the organization. He further outlined key areas of focus for the agency.
According to him, “in alignment with the Renewed Hope agenda of the present administration and the strategic blueprint of the Minister of Agriculture, we shall do more in the delivery of our services and mandate”.
Dr. Chigozie Nwodo, Head of Media, Communications, and Strategy for the Agency, noted that Dr. Audu had outlined various priorities for his administration. These include a focus on enhancing the Ease of Doing Business, which aligns with the Presidential Enabling Environment Council’s efforts within the export environment. In order to help agro-exporters and reduce time spent on documentation processing, the NAQS seeks to automate quarantine procedures, expedite inspection, streamline application processes, and automate quarantine procedures
Additionally, the agency is also set to enhance efficiency at interstate control stations, so as to minimize delays in transporting agro- commodities with an aim to address the issue of double taxation. Collaboration with stakeholders will help to eliminate illegal operators causing bottlenecks on federal highways.
Dr. Audu further stressed the need to embrace Discipline and Inclusion within the organization, which, according to him, will “ensure the development of officers and the sustainability of equal opportunities for all personnel.”
He assured stakeholders that the NAQS is committed to enhancing its service delivery, aligning its mandate with the Renewed Hope agenda of the federal government.
