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Nigerian yam exporters who exported the produce recently to the United Kingdom and United States (US) are disputing the reports in the media purporting the rejection of the country’s yam at both export destinations.
The exporters expressed worries about the potential impact of the negative publicity on their prospects at the export market in the wake of federal government’s initiative on diversification of the economy through agricultural produce export.
Michael Adedipe of ADES UK Foods and Drinks for the UK said emphatically that the consignment was cleared.
“We that decide to venture in this project are aware of the risks involved because, these are fresh produce and we’ll expect five or 10 percent damages. I don’t know why they said the product got rejected. I have sent my release note. I have sent video of loading. I’ve sent every documentation to say that there is no issue like that at all,” Adedipe said in a press statement made available to BusinessDay.
Yandev Amaabai, managing director, Wan Nyikwagh Farms Nigeria Limited has strongly disputed the yam rejection story, saying it does not tally. “I am the only person who has lifted yam to the US. Whatever we can do to clarify this issue will be good. We learn as we progress. The whole idea that government brought was to diversify the economy,” he said.
“My goods actually got to the US on September 7th, 2017. The ship berthed on September 2, 2017, but, because of the flooding in Texas, we could not discharge until the 7th and cleared from the Customs and brought to the warehouse. Yams are perishable items and, definitely, some may go bad on the way. But, this statement that says the American government rejected Nigerian yams, where does it come from?” Amaabai asked.
“Our yams were released to us and we took them to the stores. We sorted out our yams when they got there. We distributed them to the off-takers. So, where they got this story from, I don’t know. Nobody has ever called from anywhere, even in the US, to ask me question. If a few yams got rotten, and I am not complaining, why are people crying more than the owner? I have all the papers. The Customs cleared my goods on the other side. And these things went to my warehouse from where we distributed,” the exporter added.
Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture has expressed surprise at the negative news trailing his laudable effort at putting Nigeria on the global yam export market, saying “we’re not going to stop because this is not enough to demoralise us. We have food to export. Never mind what so-called critics are doing,” he said.
Josephine Okojie
