The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) hosted the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food for Progress Nigeria team yesterday at its Headquarters in Abuja as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation and promote sustainable agricultural trade between Nigeria and the United States.
The USDA delegation was led by Mr. Gustavo Galdo, who was received by the Comptroller General of NAQS, Dr. Vincent Isegbe, alongside the Service’s management team.
The engagement provided a strategic platform for both institutions to discuss practical approaches to accelerating agricultural trade by addressing key productivity, finance, and policy constraints affecting the growth of Nigeria’s agricultural sector. Discussions also focused on increasing productivity in the poultry and aquaculture subsectors, improving access to trade and finance, reducing non-tariff trade barriers, and creating a more enabling environment for agricultural businesses and producers in both countries.
Speaking during the meeting, the Comptroller General of NAQS, Dr. Vincent Isegbe, welcomed the partnership and reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to strengthening agricultural trade through effective collaboration and regulatory support. He described agricultural trade between Nigeria and the United States as vital to the economic prosperity of both nations, noting that stronger bilateral cooperation would stimulate economic growth in Nigeria while contributing to Africa’s broader agricultural and economic development.
Speaking on behalf of the USDA Food for Progress Nigeria team, Mr. Gustavo Galdo reaffirmed the programme’s commitment to supporting initiatives that improve agricultural productivity, expand market access, strengthen trade systems, and enhance the competitiveness of Nigeria’s agricultural sector. He emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration with institutions such as NAQS in promoting safe, efficient, and mutually beneficial agricultural trade.
The meeting underscores the shared commitment of NAQS and the USDA Food for Progress initiative to strengthening agricultural value chains, promoting sustainable trade, and fostering partnerships that enhance food security, economic growth, and prosperity in both Nigeria and the United States.
