Nigeria’s Ambassador to Belgium , Felix Awanbor has revealed that the Belgian government has banned the importation of Nigerian farm produce.
He made this disclosure to journalist at the just-concluded Fourth European Union-Africa Summit in Brussels, Belgium.
According to him the Belgians no longer import agric product because of some potentially harmful chemicals in the products originating from Nigeria and that this act could potentially hurt the trade balance of N67 billion between the two countries and trigger a wave of bans across the European Union (EU).
Products affected by the ban include palm oil and melon, among others, which the Belgian authorities claim contain high levels of aflatoxin considered dangerous for human consumption.
Aflatoxins are specie of cancer causing fungi that thrive in hot climatic conditions. They are allowed at low levels in seed, nuts and legumes in the United States and some European countries.
By the ban, the Belgian authorities have effectively put a quota restriction on Nigerian imports, the effect of which would be job cuts in Nigeria in the agriculture sector where Nigeria has pencilled as one of its Growth Drivers in President Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda.
The effect would be worse should other EU countries join the band wagon at a time government is working to diversify the economy.
Thats how it is for they think one day Nigeria we be stronge country like tham.