APAPA GRIDLOCK: CASHEW FARMERS LAMENTS $10 billion LOSS

About $10 billion agricultural produce and other goods are being lost annually to the Apapa gridlock challenge.

The National President, Cashew Farmers Association of Nigeria, Faseru on Monday, in an interview with journalists in Abuja said that the development was affecting export delivery time.

He said the challenge was also hindering exporters’ ability to fulfil commitments on time and making forwarding and shipment very expensive.

Faseru however called on members and exporters of agricultural produce to work in unity and also support government’s initiatives that are geared toward making business environment-friendly.

The chairman commended the Federal Government’s efforts toward ensuring that normalcy returned to Apapa road in Lagos and appealed for stiffer measures to quicken the intervention and change.

He said, “The Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, came to give them marching order again on the Apapa gridlock.

“It is still a big problem affecting us and it is over one year now since the gridlock started and it is still on.”

On cashew processing in the country, he said the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, had agreed to support the process.

“The minister is talking about bringing some equipment to aid cashew processors and use as a pilot scheme to support cashew processing industry in Nigeria,” he said.