By Femi Akinola
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Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has disclosed that the Federal Government had inaugurated the European Union Deforestation Regulation.
The minister made the disclosure on Tuesday during press briefing at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Kyari said the inauguration of the NTF is a pivotal step in aligning Nigeria’s agricultural practices with international standards, ensuring the continued access of Nigerian products to the lucrative EU market.
He emphasised the urgency of the task ahead stating, “The deforestation regulation by EU entered into force on 29th June 2023 and was given an 18-month implementation period of December 2024.”
The minister further highlighted the severe implications of non-compliance, noting that “the loss of the market due to non-compliance with EUDR presents a great threat to the cocoa, rubber, soya, and timber value chains that constitute 80 per cent, 7 per cent, 7 per cent, and 5 per cent respectively of the 523 million Euro export trade
He underscored the collective effort required to meet the EUDR standards.
“As members of the NTF on EUDR, we have an extremely urgent important duty ahead, therefore we can no longer afford to be working in silos,” he urged.
He called for unity among all stakeholders, including government and private sector operators, to achieve the set targets.
The minister also pointed out the necessity of updating Nigeria’s forest mapping and establishing a national traceability system across agricultural value chains.
“Mapping of our forest areas that was last achieved in 1959 and the need for a national traceability system across our agricultural value chains is of utmost importance,” he remarked.
