By ebosele@hotmail.com –
The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) has signed a Protocol on Quarantine Requirements for the Export of Wild Aquatic Products from Nigeria to the People’s Republic of China, in a major boost to the country’s agricultural export drive.
City Business News reports that the landmark agreement was signed on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja, in the presence of senior government officials, representatives of the Chinese government, the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership Office, stakeholders in the fisheries and aquatic products value chain, and development partners.
Representing the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the Director, Department of International and Comparative Law, Mrs. Janet S. Awanen, mni, said the Protocol had undergone extensive negotiations, legal review and clearance to ensure that its provisions aligned with Nigeria’s legal framework and national interests.
She said the agreement would contribute to economic growth by promoting value addition, creating employment opportunities and increasing Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Speaking at the ceremony, the Comptroller-General of NAQS, Dr. Vincent Isegbe, described the Protocol as a historic breakthrough that demonstrates the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to expanding Nigeria’s non-oil exports and strengthening international trade relations.
Isegbe said the agreement was the outcome of more than four years of sustained technical engagements aimed at securing access for Nigerian wild aquatic products to the Chinese market.
“As the competent authority designated by the Federal Government for the inspection and certification of animal and aquatic products, NAQS is proud to be at the centre of this milestone,” he said.
According to him, the Protocol provides the legal and technical framework required to guarantee the export of safe, high-quality and traceable Nigerian wild aquatic products to China.
The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Yu Dunhai, commended both countries for successfully concluding the negotiations, describing the signing as another significant milestone in the growing strategic partnership between Nigeria and China.
The Ambassador reaffirmed China’s confidence in Nigeria’s regulatory systems and expressed optimism that the Protocol would deepen agricultural cooperation, facilitate increased trade in aquatic products and generate mutual economic benefits.
He also encouraged Nigerian exporters to take advantage of China’s zero-tariff programme and Green Channel policy designed to accelerate customs clearance for agricultural products from Africa.
The representative of the Director-General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership Office also welcomed the agreement, describing it as a practical demonstration of the strong diplomatic and economic relationship between both countries.
She said expanding market access for Nigerian agricultural commodities remained central to the Nigeria-China partnership, adding that the Protocol would create new opportunities for investment, job creation, value addition and increased foreign exchange earnings.
The agreement is expected to significantly strengthen Nigeria’s participation in the global seafood market by providing exporters with structured access to China’s huge consumer market while ensuring compliance with internationally accepted sanitary, hygiene and traceability requirements.
