By Fatima Saka
The Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, Mariam Katagum, says that Halal product certification would stimulate investment across Nigeria’s agricultural sector and create wealth for the nation.
Speaking, Katagum said this on Monday, in Abuja at the inauguration of a 14-member Technical Committee on the Development of a Roadmap and Operational Framework for Halal Certification in Nigeria.
The minister said there was the need for Nigeria to key into the huge and profitable economy of halal market, adding that certification would give Nigerian-made-products a boost in the global market.
According to her, there is an increasing demand for halal certified products globally, especially among the large Muslim population in the Middle East, North Africa, others which presented a lucrative chain for the food market.
“As at today, the global consumer base of halal products is estimated to be about 1.9 billion Muslims across 112 countries and the halal market is estimated to be worth 2.6 trillion U.S. dollars.
“The halal market is a huge and profitable segment of the economy. We cannot, therefore, ignore the importance of assuring our local and international consumers that our products are halal certified,” she said.
“The ministry proactively decided to establish a committee to address the lack of synergy in instituting Halal standards in the country as well as the inability of Nigeria to tap into the halal global market.
“All hands must be on deck to ensure that Nigeria takes advantage of the huge halal market for maximum benefit.
“Members of the technical committee have been carefully selected to develop the operational and strategic framework for Nigeria’s halal certification process and make Nigeria a hub for halal products in Africa,’’ she added.
Katagum, therefore, advised members of the committee to diligently carry out their assignment, so as to deliver suitable recommendations that would drive the policy thrust to strengthen Nigeria’s halal sector.
Mrs Evelyn Ngige, the Permanent of the ministry said inauguration of the technical committee was a demonstration of the ministry’s commitment toward ensuring that Nigeria benefited from the halal industry.
Ngige, represented by the Director, Commodities and Exchange in the Ministry, Mr Sulieman Audu, said there was the need to take advantage of halal products and services for export to increase foreign exchange earnings.
She said that the inauguration of the committee was imperative as the ministry acknowledged that existing challenges abound due to lack of halal certifications on our products, thereby, restricting the nations benefits.
According to her, this is in line with the economic diversification agenda of the present administration, seeking to develop the non-oil sector.
“We need to take advantage of the halal products and services sector for export to increase our foreign exchange earnings, create additional jobs and wealth for the nation.’’ She said.
She stated further that the committee was committed to diligently carrying out its assignment toward elevating Nigeria’s position among halal exporters globally and most importantly in Africa.
Ngige assured the committee of the ministry’s support in ensuring that the committee accomplished its work without hindrance.
