Quarantine control posts: No exemption for inspection permit – NAQS

The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) has stated that no one is exempted from stoppage at the Quarantine posts on the ‘Federal Highway’ for inspection permit.

NAQS operates check points across the country to check dealers on aggro- commodities in order to control and differentiate between good and bad commodities due to reports on non-adherence of truckers to the regulation of mandatory inspection of goods.

In a press statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, by the Head, Media, Communications and Strategies, Dr. C. P Nwodo said: “NAQS will no longer condone the obstruction of the duty of her officers by transporters who, in a bid to evade the inspection

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and certification formalities, block the highway and create scenes that often degenerate into the frenzied destruction of government properties at the control posts”.

The statement further stated: “At the third and last meeting of the Implementation Committee on Curtailment of Cattle Rustling in Nigeria which was held in Abuja on December 8, 2017,

comprising relevant stakeholders, adopted a Communiqué which spelt out the modalities for the operation of quarantine control posts along trade routes.

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“In that meeting, all stakeholders unanimously agreed that inspection of the agricultural produce and agro-allied products and payment of the associated service charge take place only at NAQS Control Posts at Jebba, Lokoja, Makurdi, Gada Buki, Katsina-Ala, Orokam, Bode-Saadu and Riyom, which are strategically located within the North Central zone of the country.

The Quarantine service warns that ban on revenue collection on agricultural produce and agro-allied products by private consultants on the Federal Highways remains in force adding;

“All checkpoints mounted by individuals who are contracted by State Governments for the purpose of such levy collection are illegal and the Inspector General of Police has expressly ordered their permanent removal.

“All transporters of agricultural produce and dealers in agricultural produce are advised to procure loading/off-loading permits from only State Ministries of Agriculture at the state of origin after inspection and certification”, the statement said.