The Nigerian Government has taken a new dimension as the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, disclosed that the country will export 72 tonnes of yam to Europe and the United States of America (USA) on June 29.



The Minister made this known in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Olukayode Oyeleye, in Abuja on Thursday.



However, Mr. Oyeleye said Ogbeh disclosed this at a meeting with some members of the Committee on Nigeria Yam Export Programme, and also adding that the flag off of the yam export would be done at Apapa Port.



The minister said the yam would be exported in three containers at 24 tonnes each, one will be exported to the U.K. while the other two will be exported to the United States.




Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh


Ogbeh said: “To make yam competitive, we will work on the packages and the right types of trucks to be used for transportation of the produce.



The Minister also noted that Agriculture can create more employment than oil and gas and for that reason the country need to move from oil and gas to agriculture.



“Oil and gas cannot employ millions of people just like agriculture so, we must work hard to move from oil to earning foreign exchange from agriculture,’’ he said.



Also confirming the statement of the minister as regard the export of yam to the two world powerful countries, Prof. Simon Irtwange, the Chairman of the committee set up in February, said they were working with the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to commence the process of the export.



The committee is made up of representatives from the Nigerian Customs Service, Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), and many more.

Mynd44



http://www.eyereport.com.ng/nigeria-to-export-yam-to-u-s-and-u-k/

Stupid people......we never see yam chop, una da find the one wa una da export

As if we don chop belleful

I don't understand why this guy is celebrating this.
People have been exporting yams to Europe and America for ages. Why are they suddenly making it look like this is the beginning.

I get orders for container loads of Yams regularly.

What this guy should be focusing on instead is how to ensure that the quality parameters required to export Agro produce are met by farmers. Also, they should ensure that the Port folks stop being a hindrance to entrepreneurs seeking to export products overseas!