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Published on
02.12.25
In a significant step toward enhancing Nigeria’s agricultural biosecurity, the IITA–CGIAR Germplasm Health Unit (GHU) hosted the Comptroller General (CG) of Nigeria’s Agricultural Quarantine Services (NAQS), Dr Vincent Isegbe, along with other senior NAQS officials, for a strategic workshop held from 27–29 October.
The workshop, designed to exchange insights on germplasm movement procedures, phytosanitary standards, and emerging plant health threats, reinforced the longstanding partnership between IITA and NAQS, which Dr Isegbe described as “enduring,” “mutually beneficial,” and “commendable.”
The event provided an opportunity to update NAQS officials on the latest GHU protocols across the CGIAR and to foster dialogue on protecting national and transboundary agricultural systems from pests, pathogens, and diseases.
In his opening remarks, Dr Lava Kumar, Head of GHU, thanked NAQS for its consistent cooperation in supporting IITA’s germplasm exchange. He noted that the GHU applies a systems approach to ensure pest-free germplasm and rigorous health indexing across the IITA-mandated crops. He also emphasized the importance of close collaboration with national quarantine agencies and the African Union Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (AU-IAPSC) in areas such as pest risk assessment, delimitation surveys, training, and capacity development.