Federal government has rated the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) high in the latest Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Regulatory Reforms Assessment.
NAQS was lauded for its exceptional achievement of attaining a 100% rating and ranking first out of 36 ministries, departments and agencies of government.
According to the head of media communications and strategies of NAQS, Senyamba Tanto, the recognition was made public by the special adviser to the president on ease of doing business, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, at the inaugural PEBEC town hall meeting held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja.
Following the reappointment of Dr Vincent Isegbe as director-general of NAQS for a second term in office in March 2024, his reappointment came with a charge from Mr President to build on the service’s performance after it previously ranked among the top three agencies of the federal government in the efficiency and transparency index by the PEBEC.
Oduwole said, “NAQS’s performance sets a new benchmark for regulatory agencies in Nigeria. Their commitment to excellence and service delivery is exemplary and aligns with PEBEC’s mission to create a business-friendly environment.”
Dr Isegbe, in his response, expressed gratitude for this recognition, stating, “Achieving a 100% PEBEC rating is a testament to our dedication and unwavering commitment to excellence and continuous improvement.”
He stated, “We owe a significant portion of this success to the exceptional leadership and support of our honourable minister, Senator Abubakar Kyari. His dedication to driving NAQS to the top has been invaluable. The Honorable Minister’s daily vigilance in monitoring our performance on the PEBEC tracker and consistent reminders to maintain our rightful position at number one has kept us motivated and focused. It allows NAQS to align completely with the renewed hope agenda of the current administration.”
Isegbe said the accomplishment is a collective effort of the fantastic NAQS PEBEC Team, which engages him in daily early morning briefings and consultations for performance appraisal and the general cooperation of the entire NAQS Officers.
He pledged that NAQS is committed to maintaining these high standards of excellence by raising the bar in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, sustaining this momentum and continuing to serve as Nigeria’s lead regulatory agency and the first line of defence in agriculture and food security.
He said NAQS remains steadfast in its mission to protect Nigeria’s agricultural integrity and facilitate seamless agricultural import and exports, “This achievement will undoubtedly enhance investor confidence and attract more international business opportunities to Nigeria,” he said.