Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (naqs)

What Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (naqs) does

Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) is a federal government regulatory agency operating under Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. Its statutory mandate is to prevent the introduction, establishment, and spread of foreign pests and diseases affecting plant, animal, and aquatic resources, while promoting sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures for agricultural imports and exports. NAQS serves importers, exporters, and traders of agricultural commodities — including live animals, plant products, germplasm, grains, ornamentals, fish and seafood — at all Nigerian points of entry: seaports, airports, and land borders. It issues phytosanitary certificates, veterinary health certificates, import permits, and aquatic resource certifications compliant with IPPC and WTO/SPS standards.

NAQS operates a digital service platform comprising three core systems: the NAQS E-Services Portal (eservices.naqs.gov.ng) for permit and certificate applications; the ePhyto Application System, aligned with International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) standards for electronic phytosanitary certificate processing; and a Phytosanitary Certificate Verification Portal (verifyphyto.naqsportal.net) that enables third-party validation of issued certificates. These platforms are integrated with the National Single Window (NSW) platform and the Nigeria Customs Service B'Odogwu platform, with payment processing handled through Remita. Customer support requests reportedly fell from approximately 30% during early NSW integration to around 10% following stable operation. The agency's service portfolio is organized into three primary divisions — Animal Quarantine, Plant Quarantine, and Aquatic Resources Quarantine — supported by Laboratory Testing and Examination, fast-track Commodity Examination, and an Import/Export Requirements service.

NAQS is funded primarily through annual government budgetary allocations rather than commercial revenue. It does collect user fees for quarantine services, permits, and inspections, which are processed through Remita. The agency's distribution model combines a self-service digital portal with physical inspection operations at all Nigerian ports of entry. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and importers have raised stakeholder concerns over permit costs, indicating fee levels are a politically sensitive variable rather than a market-driven commercial lever.

Name

Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (naqs)

Legal name

Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service

Website

https://naqs.gov.ng

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

NAQS is a Nigerian federal regulatory agency under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security that prevents the spread of foreign agricultural pests and diseases by certifying plant, animal, and aquatic imports and exports at all Nigerian ports of entry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Quarantine and Phytosanitary Services

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Pesticide Residue & Agrochemical Screening Services (Soil/Plant/Water) (AFACAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) & Industrial Contaminants Testing (Dioxins, PCBs, PAHs) (AFALAFAE)

Keywords

• Agricultural quarantine services
• Phytosanitary certification
• Veterinary health inspection
• Import export permits
• Pest disease surveillance

Headquarters

HQ city

Abuja

HQ country

Nigeria

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. User Fees and Permit Fees: Government regulatory agency collecting user fees for quarantine services including import/export permits, phytosanitary certificates, and inspection services. Importers have raised concerns over permit costs.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

NAQS is the federal government regulatory agency that prevents the introduction and spread of foreign pests and diseases of plant, animal and aquatic resources into Nigeria through inspection, certification, and surveillance at all ports of entry. It issues phytosanitary certificates, veterinary health certificates, import/export permits, and laboratory examination services, supported by a digital e-services platform for online applications and verification.

Product overview

Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service operates as a unified regulatory agency platform offering multiple interconnected quarantine and certification services across three primary divisions: Animal Quarantine, Plant Quarantine, and Aquatic Resources Quarantine. The service portfolio centers on a digital infrastructure comprising the NAQS E-Services Portal, ePhyto Application System, and Phytosanitary Certificate Verification Portal, which collectively enable electronic application, processing, and verification of import/export permits and certificates. Supporting services include Laboratory Testing and Examination, Commodity Examination (with fast-track option), and Import/Export Requirements guidance. All services operate under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security mandate to prevent foreign pests and diseases from entering Nigeria while facilitating legitimate agricultural trade. The agency has integrated its systems with the National Single Window platform and Nigeria Customs Service B'Odogwu platform to streamline port clearance processes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NAQS E-Services Portal A comprehensive online portal providing access to NAQS regulatory services including ePhyto applications, user fee payments, and digital service requests for agricultural quarantine operations, targeted at importers and exporters of plant, animal, and aquatic products in Nigeria.
• ePhyto Application System Electronic phytosanitary certificate application system that enables digital submission and processing of phytosanitary certificates for plant and plant product exports, aligned with International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) standards, targeted at plant product exporters.
• Phytosanitary Certificate Verification Portal Online portal for verifying the authenticity of phytosanitary certificates issued by NAQS, enabling trade partners and regulatory authorities to validate export certifications.
• Animal Quarantine Services Veterinary quarantine services including health inspection of export and import of live animals (dogs, cattle, cats, horses, sheep, goats, parent stock, pet birds), verification of import/export permits, authentication of international veterinary certificates, and surveillance for contagious and zoonotic diseases at points of entry.
• Plant Quarantine Services Plant protection services that protect cultivated crops and natural flora from foreign plant pests, issue import permits for plant products, soil, and bio-control agents, and perform inspection and certification of plant germplasm, commercial seeds, ornamentals, grains, tubers, and other plant products for export compliance with IPPC and WTO/SPS Agreement standards.
• Aquatic Resources Quarantine Services Regulatory services that supervise, regulate, and control import and export of aquatic resources through quality assessment and certification, provide scientific backup for aquatic quarantine inspection at entry/exit points, authenticate international sanitary certificates, and monitor for aquatic diseases of economic importance.
• Laboratory Testing and Examination Services Laboratory services for vegetable and commodity testing and examination, providing scientific analysis to support quarantine decisions and certify agricultural product quality for import and export.
• ReportGov Complaints System Government-authorized complaints and feedback submission system in partnership with PEBEC, allowing users to report issues, concerns, or feedback on NAQS quarantine services.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)coreTechnology or Integration · 10 July 2026NAQS has fully integrated its systems with the Nigeria Customs Service's B'Odogwu platform as part of the National Single Window ecosystem. This integration has reduced customer support requests from approximately 30% during early implementation to around 10%, significantly streamlining cargo processing for agricultural imports and exports.
• IITA (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2025NAQS and IITA DEPEEN collaboration ahead of strategic engagement with CGIAR Chief Scientist. The Comptroller General of NAQS, Dr. Vincent Isegbe, received Dr. Lava Kumar, Head of IITA, to strengthen scientific collaboration in pest control and agricultural research.
• NOPPMAN (National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2025NAQS and NOPPMAN are strengthening collaboration on onion export facilitation and phytosanitary certification. The Comptroller General of NAQS, Dr. Vincent Isegbe, hosted the President of NOPPMAN to enhance the national onion export programme.
• National Single Window (NSW)coreTechnology or IntegrationNAQS is fully integrated into the National Single Window platform alongside NAFDAC, SON, and NDLEA, enabling modernised trade processes and improved port efficiency for agricultural quarantine services.
• Sentinel X Farmer GuideminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAQS is exploring partnership with Sentinel X Farmer Guide to strengthen pest control and enhance agricultural productivity through collaborative efforts.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA): Federal agency responsible for safeguarding Canada's food, plant, and animal resources through inspection, certification, and quarantine at borders. Comparable mandate covering plant, animal, and food safety at points of entry.
• Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Australia): Australian federal department performing biosecurity inspection, quarantine, and export certification functions across plant, animal, and aquatic commodities at all ports of entry. Established peer in the agricultural quarantine domain.
• USDA APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service): US federal agency with the closest direct mandate to NAQS — preventing introduction and spread of agricultural pests and diseases, issuing phytosanitary and veterinary health certificates, and operating at all US ports of entry. The clearest functional peer for NAQS globally.
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA, UK): UK government department overseeing plant and animal health, import/export certification, and biosecurity policy. Comparable regulatory authority over agricultural trade with phytosanitary and veterinary certification functions.
• New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI): New Zealand's unified biosecurity, food safety, and primary industry regulator, operating a single-window approach to border inspection. Comparable consolidated mandate covering plant, animal, and aquatic quarantine plus export certification.
• European Food Safety Authority (EFSA): EU-level agency providing scientific advice on food and feed safety, plant and animal health, with implications for cross-border agricultural trade. Relevant scientific-regulatory peer supporting EU-wide SPS standards NAQS must align with for exports.

Regional players

• Bureau of Animal Industry (Philippines): Philippine government agency handling animal quarantine, veterinary health certification, and import/export inspection for live animals and animal products. Comparable animal quarantine mandate and emerging-market regulatory context.
• South Africa Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD): South African national authority responsible for phytosanitary, veterinary, and agricultural import/export controls across Africa's most developed agricultural export economy. Closest regional peer operating in a similar African trade context.

Direct peers

• Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS): Kenyan government agency responsible for plant health inspection, phytosanitary certification, and pest surveillance for imports/exports. Most directly comparable African peer in mandate and operating model.

Others

• International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC): Multilateral treaty body that sets the international phytosanitary standards NAQS explicitly aligns with. Not a competitor, but the standard-setting ecosystem participant whose frameworks govern NAQS's certification work.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nigeria-agricultural-quarantine-service-naqs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (naqs)