Nigeria Customs Service has re-introduced the restriction order on importation of rice through land borders across the country.

Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) gave the approval for the reversal of an earlier policy in October 2015 which allowed rice imports through the land borders, once appropriate duty and charges were paid.

Wale Adeniyi, spokesperson of Nigeria Customs Service said in a statement that at a review session held with Comptrollers of Border Commands and Federal Operation Units held in Abuja, the Service noted that dwindling revenue from rice imports through the land borders do not match the volume rice landed in neighboring ports. Rather, reports from border commands indicated an upsurge in the tempo of rice smuggling.

Though he noted that implementation of the restriction order got off to a smooth start, with a high level of compliance in October 2015, revenue started dwindling from January 2016, with importers blaming access to forex as major impediments.

According to NCS, during the five-month period when the importation was allowed which was from October 2015-March 17th 2016, a total of 24.992 Metric Tonnes of Rice valued at N 2. 33 billion was imported through the land borders.

The NCS said during the period, total revenue generated amounted to N 1.68billion.

“This is considerably lower than the revenue projected to be generated with the removal of import restrictions. However, an upsurge in the number of the seizures has been reported across the land borders since January 2016.

In the first two months of the 2016, a total of 9238 bags were seized, with Duty Paid Value of N64,666,000 was made by the Customs anti-smuggling patrol teams of Federal operations and Border commands.

Comptroller-General of Customs noted that his Officers and Men cannot be totally exonerated from the abuse associated with the implementation of the order on rice, as his office has been inundated with reports of collusion between them and Rice importers.

He has directed investigation into the reports, insisting that indicted personnel will be sanctioned.

“While directing a zero-tolerance to rice imports through the land borders irrespective of volume with immediate effect, he stated that importers who have already initiated import processes will have a grace period ending Friday 25th March 2016 to clear their consignments,” Adeniyi said




http://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2016/03/22/customs-bans-rice-importation-again/

They are always so quick to ban but there is never any development plan to meet up with the required demand. There is God sha.

Will history repeat itself again??

In 1983 during PMB military rule, he banned the importation of rice due to over-dependence on imports and to promote agricultute in Nigeria..............................

Months later, Nigeria's problem changed from how to import rice to how to store the excess rice produced by us..................we sincerely hope things go that way agaian...........

#we_believe_in_PMB .............what about you?

this govt want to kill person o, na him be rice go reach #20,000 per bag na, lord have mercy, buhari does not care about d average nigerians

Good! una go chop and enjoy ofada rice by fire by force. Nigeria under siege! chain is here live and direct! Enjoy!

Mediator97:
They are always so quick to ban but there is never any development plan to meet up with the required demand. There is God sha.

Read and understand.
There was a ban in place that was lifted in October.

When there are top Hausa men smuggling rice and some others producing it, why won't he stop the importation to promote their activities... and put more money in hausa households.

...nuff said sha.
We in the SS will eat rebranded Abakili rice

cele360:
this govt want to kill person o, na him be rice go reach #20,000 per bag na, lord have mercy, buhari does not care about d average nigerians

Your so called average Nigerian don't eat imported rice

What an unserious government.

Rolings:


Your so called average Nigerian don't eat imported rice

so what do they eat? d made in Nigerian rice called ama's pride how much is it in d market? Rubbish

I will like to know the kind of rice Buhari and his children eat! Its pointless banning imported rice when that's what you eat in your household!

It is too easy to just Ban things!!!!!!

Is there a clear plan/program to support farmers to produce good quality rice which Nigerians can afford and is of as good a quality as the imported rice?? Is the program effective?

misguided protectionism alone will not drag us out of our economic problems! If the local produce is not good enough as per quality and affordability. Both traders and consumers will resort to black market!

Lets not create another black market. We should have learnt from the protectionist currency policy that adds no value to the real economy.

slowly and slowly Buhari is creating a "Black Economy" that will do nothing but undermine the real economy!

cele360:
so what do they eat? d made in Nigerian rice called ama's pride how much is it in d market? Rubbish

You tell us the price of amas pride cos I know locally produced rice is cheap