Trade War Looms: SON, NAFDAC, Customs, NIWA Move to Secure Nigeria’s Trade Corridors

By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha

The Director-General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Ifeanyichukwu Chukwurah Okeke; Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mojisola Adeyeye;

And other key stakeholders in Nigeria’s trade and maritime sectors are expected to brainstorm on ways to secure trade corridors and unlock the blue economy opportunities in Anambra State.

The stakeholders are expected at a two-day statewide sensitisation seminar organised by the Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN), Anambra State chapter, in collaboration with the Anambra State Government.

The seminar, scheduled for September 15 and 16 in Awka, the state capital, has as its theme: “Securing Trade Corridors and Unlocking Blue Economy Opportunities.”

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, and the Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, are expected to grace the event as special guests of honour.

Disclosing this in a statement, the state chairman of IMAN, Obinna Molokwu, said the seminar would bring together critical government agencies and private-sector players to deliberate on the challenges confronting legitimate commerce and ways of creating a safer and more competitive trading environment.

Molokwu listed other expected speakers and participants to include the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Bola Oyebamiji; the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Pius Ukeyima Akutah; and the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.

Also expected are the Inspector-General of Police, Tunde Disu; Commissioner for Commerce, Anambra State, Mrs Folashade Ambrose Medebem; and the founder of African Supply Chain Academy, Obiorah Madu, who is billed to deliver the lead lecture.

Samuel Babatunde is expected to moderate the discussions, which will focus on strengthening trade corridors, improving regulatory coordination, enhancing supply-chain efficiency and positioning Anambra for greater participation in regional and international commerce.

According to Molokwu, the seminar is also designed to position Anambra State for safe commerce, competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and sustainable economic growth.

He stressed that the initiative would provide an opportunity for government agencies, importers, manufacturers, traders and other stakeholders to address issues capable of frustrating legitimate businesses while exploring the economic potential of the state’s waterways and other trade corridors.

The IMAN chairman also recalled the association’s contributions to the efforts of the three tiers of government toward crime reduction, saying the seminar would further strengthen cooperation between legitimate importers and security and regulatory agencies.

He said the gathering would also support the government’s efforts toward achieving zero tolerance for the importation of illegal arms and other prohibited items, while promoting a safer and more transparent trading environment in Anambra and the wider South-East.