IITA and NAQS strengthen partnership for safer germplasm exchange and plant health biosecurity

28 November 2025

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.

Oguntade Oluwole, GHU Laboratory Manager, provided an operational overview, and Aransi Abideen and Ajamu Bunmi provided an update on Quality Management Systems in GHU. Dr Kazeem Adewale, NAQS Surveillance and Diagnostic Officer, delivered a presentation on the role of Post-Entry Quarantine diagnostics and surveillance in ensuring safe germplasm exchange and maintaining plant health. These talks were followed by engaging discussions among participants, who shared perspectives on strengthening quarantine services and advancing Nigeria’s phytosanitary infrastructure.

The NAQS delegation, comprising the South-West Zonal Coordinator, Dr Joy Ivbade Ichue; the Special Adviser on Technical Matters to the Comptroller General, Dr Akindele Ogunfunmilayo; and about 20 other officers, toured key IITA facilities, including the Virology and Diagnostics Unit, GHU, the Genebank, Yam Propagation, and the Aflasafe production facility. The visit provided firsthand insights into IITA’s systems for producing, handling, and testing clean planting materials, along with an overview of other core institutional operations.

The Comptroller General and his team expressed strong appreciation for IITA’s innovative work in disease diagnostics, surveillance, pathogen control, and rapid seed multiplication technologies based on SAH for cassava and yams. They also commended the remarkable progress of the Aflasafe program in controlling aflatoxin across Africa.

The CG praised the ongoing collaboration between NAQS and IITA in managing emerging disease threats, such as banana bunchy top and fall armyworm, as well as in preparing for invasive risks, including cassava brown streak and maize lethal necrosis. He emphasized the need for continued vigilance and strict adherence to phytosanitary procedures to ensure institutional compliance.

In his closing remarks, Dr Isegbe commended IITA for its rigorous approach to germplasm health and affirmed the continued collaboration between NAQS and IITA to strengthen Nigeria’s phytosanitary systems and enhance compliance with international standards. “Partnerships like this are vital for protecting our agriculture, facilitating trade, and supporting the development of resilient crop systems critical to food security and economic growth in Nigeria and across Africa,” he said.

Dr Lava Kumar expressed his gratitude to the NAQS team, particularly the post-entry quarantine station in Ibadan and the South-West Zonal Command in Lagos, which serve as key points of contact for GHU operations. He acknowledged their steadfast support for IITA’s international development work and their essential role in enabling safe and efficient germplasm exchange.

Contributed by Folake Oduntan