Dr. Sunday Audu, the newly appointed Acting Director General of the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service Agency (NAQS), has officially taken on his responsibilities with a commitment to improving the ease of doing business in the country. Audu assumed the role following the conclusion of the tenure of the agency’s pioneer Comptroller, Dr. Vincent Isegbe, in December, as mandated by the NAQS Establishment Act, which stipulates that the next most senior Director assumes the acting capacity.
As the Deputy Comptroller General (DCG) of Quarantine, Audu has stepped into the role of acting Comptroller General of the agency. Speaking in Abuja, the Ag DG stated, “In alignment with the Renewed Hope agenda of the present administration and the strategic blueprint of the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, we shall do more in the delivery of our services and mandate.” He emphasized the commitment to enhancing the export environment by expediting inspection and certification services, streamlining application processes, and automating quarantine procedures, in line with the Presidential Enabling Environment Council’s efforts within the export domain.
Audu highlighted that these efforts would not only make life easier for agro-exporters but also reduce the processing time for agricultural export documentation. To address issues such as double taxation, he mentioned plans to optimize operations at interstate control stations to minimize delays in the transportation of agricultural commodities. Collaborative efforts with stakeholders were also emphasized to eliminate illegal operators causing bottlenecks on federal highways.
Emphasizing the importance of discipline, order, and inclusiveness within the organization, Audu expressed a commitment to the development of officers and the sustainability of equal opportunities for all personnel. The Ag DG assured stakeholders that the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service is dedicated to enhancing its service delivery, aligning its mandate with the Renewed Hope agenda of the Federal Government of Nigeria.