Nigeria and China have taken another step towards deepening bilateral trade relations with the signing of a protocol establishing inspection and quarantine requirements for Nigerian wild aquatic products destined for the Chinese market.
The agreement, signed in Abuja by the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, and the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), Dr. Vincent Isegbe, is expected to facilitate greater access for Nigerian aquatic products to the Chinese market.
The Protocol on Inspection and Quarantine Requirements for Wild Aquatic Products to be Exported to China was signed between the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China and the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ambassador Yu described the protocol as an important institutional arrangement for implementing China’s zero-tariff policy for African countries.
He said the agreement would provide a clear basis for the inspection and quarantine of Nigerian wild aquatic products exported to China, thereby creating a more structured pathway for Nigerian exporters to access the Chinese market.
According to him, the protocol would also help expand agricultural trade between Nigeria and China, promote the development of Nigeria’s fisheries sector and increase the country’s foreign exchange earnings through exports.
“The signing of the Protocol is an important institutional arrangement for implementing China’s zero-tariff policy for African countries,” Yu said.
The Ambassador added that the agreement would inject new impetus into the deepening of China-Nigeria economic and trade cooperation, particularly through increased agricultural exports and stronger market linkages.
In his remarks, the NAQS Comptroller-General, Dr. Isegbe, said Nigeria welcomed China’s continued expansion of imports of high-quality Nigerian agricultural and aquatic products.
He assured that Nigeria was ready to work closely with the Chinese authorities to ensure the effective implementation of the inspection and quarantine requirements contained in the protocol.
“Nigeria welcomes China’s further expansion of imports of high-quality Nigerian agricultural and aquatic products,” Isegbe said.
He said the Nigerian side would facilitate the entry of more distinctive Nigerian agricultural products into the Chinese market while ensuring that the benefits of bilateral cooperation were translated into tangible gains for the people of both countries.
The agreement is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s position in the international aquatic products market while supporting efforts to diversify the country’s export base and generate additional foreign exchange from the fisheries sector.
The signing also reinforces the growing economic partnership between Nigeria and China, with both countries seeking to expand trade, improve market access and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation across key sectors of their economies.
