Nigeria moves to prevent pest invasion

Nigeria has succeeded in preventing the entry of invasive plant pests and other emerging pests in agric, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, has said.

 

Nanono made this known at the 31st Technical Consultation among Regional Plant Protection Organisation (TC-RPPOs) in Abuja.

 

The National Plant Protection Organisation for Nigeria and the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) are hosting the historic assembly on behalf of the country and the continent.

 

The conference came up as a result of food insecurity caused by pests and diseases amidst a rising population.

 

The Technical Consultation comprises heads of plant protection bodies across the globe as well as staff members of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat domiciled in the Food Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Rome, Italy.

 

Organisers said this would place the spotlight on the Nigerian plant health system.

 

The agric minister, who was represented at the event by the Director General NAQS, Vincent Isegbe, said plant pests such as maize lethal necrotic disease, Fusarium Oxysporium spp Cubense (TR4) of banana, cassava brown streak disease do not exist in Nigeria any longer.

 

“Nigeria has over the years battled with and contained highly invasive plant pests such as cocoa swollen shoot disease, tuta absoluta, and tomato moth, banana bunchy top disease.

 

“Due to an elaborate pytosanitary administrative structure and pest surveillance system, Nigeria has succeeded in preventing the entry of invasive plant pests such as maize lethal necrotic disease, Fusarium Oxysporium spp Cubense (TR4) of banana, cassava brown streak disease and other emerging pests,” Nanono said.

 

He said the outcome (of the conference) would provide solutions that will protect the plant resource in Africa and also spread to nations under the ten   RPPOs “creating market access and enhancing international trade for pest free plants and plant products.”