ABUJA-THE House of Representatives on
Thursday ordered an investigation into the alleged
non-payment of import duties of over N28.3billion
in violation of rice import quotas assigned the
Stallion Group and other companies under the
new federal government rice policy.
The investigation, according to a resolution of the
House on a motion moved under matters of
urgent public importance by a member, Rep
Simon Arabo is to among other things, determine
the approved quota to each of the concerned
companies, as well as the excess importation in
metric tonnes, how much such companies are
owing the federal government.
In addition, the investigative panel is expected to
recommend appropriate sanctions against the
firms, and a way to recovering the monies owed
the federal government, and also to make
appropriate recommendations to the House within
three weeks.
Arabo in his submissions said the commendable
efforts of the federal government over the new
rice policy, intended to encourage local rice
production with a view to ensuring self sufficiency
in that area by 2016 was being frustrated by lack
of compliance with the guidelines issued by the
government, through its Ministry of Agriculture.
He said, “Stallion Group, Popular Foods and Olam
Nigeria Limited in collusion with their foreign
investors have imported rice exceeding their
approved quotas, and thus owe the federal
government about N28.3 billion in import duties.
The lawmaker specifically revealed that Stallion
Group and Popular Foods, who were yet owing
the federal government a combined sum of N15
billion have gone ahead to import another 85,000
metric tons of rice into Nigeria.
In his words, “the actions of these companies are
capable of scuttling the nation’s self-sufficiency
in rice production, an act which deny the federal
government of Nigeria the needed revenue (from)
import duties.

CORRUPTION....

the problems we face today won't end when our dependence on oil ends, it will end when we eradicate corruption

tobtap:
CORRUPTION....

i thought we would soon be rice sufficient according to minister for agric