The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nonye Ayeni, has raised fresh concerns over the continued use of paraquat in Nigeria’s sesame value chain, warning that the practice threatens the country’s export reputation and market access.
Ayeni’s position follows recent threats by foreign importers to suspend purchases of Nigerian sesame due to repeated detections of excessive paraquat residues. The Japan Oil & Fat Importers & Exporters Association (JOFIEA), alongside Japanese authorities, had earlier issued multiple alerts over the contamination of Nigerian shipments. Similar warnings have been flagged through the European Union’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), which also reported recurring cases of Salmonella contamination in exports to Greece, Germany, Poland, Latvia, Spain and Belgium.
In an effort to address these concerns, NEPC’s Product Development Department conducted a sensitization and awareness campaign at the weekend in Jalingo, Taraba State.
The programme, as noticed by The Guardian, focused on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Good Handling Practices (GHP), Good Storage Practices (GSP), and compliance with Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards (SPS).
The event drew participants from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), National Sesame Seed Association of Nigeria, Taraba State Ministries of Agriculture and Commerce, traditional rulers, farmers’ groups, and the media.
Represented by the Director of Product Development, Macphetson Fred-Ileogben, the NEPC boss reiterated the urgency of eliminating paraquat across the sesame production chain.
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“The future of our sesame export market depends on strict adherence to international standards. We must work together to ensure Nigerian sesame remains competitive and safe for consumers worldwide,” Ayeni said.
As part of the intervention, the NEPC team also paid courtesy visits to traditional rulers and key stakeholders in Jalingo and Ardo-Kola local government areas, major sesame producing hubs where paraquat, locally called “Sharp Sharp,” is widely used.
Stakeholders pledged support for the sensitization campaign and committed to mobilising farmers to adopt safer and internationally accepted agricultural practices.
NEPC, in turn, reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s non-oil export markets and strengthening the competitiveness of Nigerian sesame on the global stage.
