By Faridat Salifu
The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has emphasized the pivotal role of the forthcoming fisheries’ subsidies agreement in curbing illegal fishing activities within Nigerian waters.
Speaking at the recent launch of the WTO Standard Trade Development Facility (STDF) project in Abuja, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala commended Nigeria for its proactive stance as the first country to ratify the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement.
Highlighting Nigeria’s strides in trade quality assurance, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala underscored the significance of the country’s adherence to Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreements. These measures ensure that traded goods meet stringent quality standards on a global scale.
Additionally, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala praised Nigeria’s commitment to enhancing international safety and quality certification for key agricultural commodities such as sesame and cowpeas.
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Notably, Nigeria stands as the world’s largest producer and consumer of cowpeas, while also ranking as the fourth-largest producer of sesame globally.
Despite Nigeria’s significant agricultural output, challenges persist in meeting international SPS requirements, leading to rejections of exports in various destination markets.
However, with the support of initiatives such as the STDF project and collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the Ministry of Trade and Investment, Nigeria aims to bolster its trade intelligence capabilities.
The development of a trade intelligence service, comprising a Trade Intelligence Unit and a Trade Intelligence Portal, will provide vital information to both businesses and the government, facilitating informed decision-making and fostering trade growth.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s remarks underscore Nigeria’s commitment to combatting illegal fishing activities, ensuring compliance with international trade standards, and fostering economic growth through enhanced trade intelligence and quality certification initiatives.
