A Nigerian yam exporter, Dr Timothy Ijir, based in the United States, has said that the US authorities did not reject any yam exports from Nigeria.

He stated this in an interview with Punch on Saturday.

He said, “I am the only person who has imported Nigerian yams into the US and I can say without equivocation that they were not rejected. Any statement to the contrary is false and misguided.

“Some of the statements and quotes credited to the Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources are false. I am currently working on importing my next consignment. Our US Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration import permit is still valid.”

[Read Also: Audu Ogbeh to face probe for exporting yams – Reps]

Also, an expert in the agricultural sector, Prof. Joseph Ukpabi has accused the Federal Government of not carrying out proper consultations before approving the exportation of yams from Nigeria to the United States, China and the United Kingdom.

Ukpabi, the Acting Director, National Root Crop Research Institute, Umudieke, Imo, said the Federal Government did not involve the institute before commencing the exportation of yam to Europe and the US.

Ukpabi said, “The problem associated with yam export to Europe is due to improper consultation. We are the research institute in charge of roots and tubers in Nigeria, but unfortunately, we were not consulted before the yam exportation exercise started.

“The viruses that affect yam are numerous; so, you need to know the varieties of yam that you are exporting. I am trying to see the Minister of Agriculture to know what actually happened to the exported yams and why they got spoilt before their transit to Europe.”

Omoleye Omoruyi

Omoleye Omoruyi… an apprentice web/game developer, novelist, sensitive to happenings in the world. Meet him @Lord_rickie on Twitter/Instagram