The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) convened a stakeholder meeting with the Association of Hibiscus Flower Exporters of Nigeria (AHFEN) in Kano as part of ongoing efforts to enhance the efficiency, integrity, and competitiveness of Nigeria’s hibiscus export value chain.
The meeting reviewed the 2025 export season, discussed product pricing trends, addressed concerns around seal integrity and transit security, evaluated the operations of fumigation chambers, and explored market diversification opportunities beyond Mexico which is Nigeria’s traditional export destination for hibiscus.
The session also focused on operational readiness measures to ensure a seamless and compliant start to the forthcoming export season.
The meeting was attended by the Comptroller General of NAQS, Dr. Vincent Isegbe, the North-West Zonal Commander, Dr. A.I. Gano, and Head of Plant Quarantine Department, DCQ Akpanger James, along with NAQS zonal officers, AHFEN leadership and members, and key private sector stakeholders in the export ecosystem.
In his remarks, the Comptroller General commended AHFEN for its continued partnership with NAQS in promoting Nigeria’s hibiscus exports and reiterated the Service’s commitment to facilitating safe, high-quality, and internationally acceptable export practices. He emphasized the need for sustained collaboration to expand access to new international markets and ensure compliance with global phytosanitary standards.
In his response, the AHFEN Chairman commended NAQS for its support throughout the last export season, noting that over 2,500 containers of hibiscus were exported without a single rejection. As a result of the improved quality standards and effective regulatory oversight by the Service. He expressed the association’s readiness to deepen cooperation with NAQS to further strengthen Nigeria’s position in the global hibiscus market.
The meeting reaffirmed NAQS’s dedication to safeguarding Nigeria’s agricultural economy by fostering partnerships that strengthen export systems, improve quality assurance, and enhance the global competitiveness of Nigerian agricultural commodities.
