Herald47:
You want to stop importation of rice when we are still importing matches and razor blade even pencils and sharpner.

[size=18pt]Custom Boss Lifts Ban On Rice Import[/size]

The comptroller-general of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), has ordered the immediate removal of rice from import restriction list and the re-introduction of import duty payment at land borders.

The public relations officer of Customs, Mr Wale Adeniyi, who made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, said that the restriction was only applied at land border stations before now, adding that the customs boss had lifted restriction on rice at border stations.

He said that all rice imports through land borders by rice traders would attract the prevailing import duty of 10 percent, with 60 percent levy. Rice millers (preferential levy) with valid quota allocation would also attract duty rate of 10 percent with 20 percent levy on rice importation.

“Over the years, importation has been restricted to the seaports because border authorities have found it difficult to effectively monitor and control importation of rice.

“When the decision to ban it (rice) was taken, it was not an effective measure because the smuggling of the product thrives with people using different means of conveyance, including small trucks, bicycles and even animals – putting them on donkeys and some actually carry it on their heads.

“These new measures will be for Customs to recognise their anti-smuggling operations in the border areas and ensure that all those importers through the borders bring their rice through approved routes and pay their extant duty

“Before the ban on rice importation, Customs had placed different rates of levy on rice imports – 30 percent levy was placed on rice millers (preferential levy) and 70 per cent for rice importers. The purpose was to encourage local production.



http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/customs-removes-rice-from-import-restriction-list-at-land-borders/114013.html

AsYouSaid:
Rice had become a staple food in Nigeria. Rice comes easy and cheap to cook on the menu of over 80% Nigerians daily. If by this policy a bag reduces by 50% to N4000k, the general good of the general number would have been achieved and this is the purpose of governance. We cannot while wanting to boost rice production so that a few percentage of us (local farmers) can get richer allow the over 80% Nigerians that depends on rice consumption daily continue to suffer. Rice unlike cassava do not thrive in every part of Nigeria nor is it that best suited for our climate for ease of cultivation. The comparative advantage law teaches us to strengthen our main areas and depend on others in what they are best suited for. That we want to encourage Innoson to produce vehicles would not make us ban the importation of new, used, and spare parts of vehicle, cos we don't have comparative advantage in that commodity yet neither can Innoson meet the gaping demand. same way that local rice producers cannot yet or arguably even in the future. We should focus on our areas of strength and sensibly support this 'positive policy somersault' for the good of the generality of Nigerians. God Bless You and Yours.

Beremx:
ilekeh,frankly speaking, the ordinary man like me wants the price of rice to reduce drastically. I don't care how its going to be done. Seriously

Keneking:
Great...source

This government is working

lalasticlala

Beremx:
E remain frozen chicken o!

I hope the price of a bag of rice reduces drastically. How can a bag of rice be sold for 5k at Seme and when it gets to lagos,it is sold between 9 to 12k depending on the brand? That's too expensive!

Nevertheless,the local farmers should not be discouraged. I still eat my Ofada rice anytime,anyday.

obailala:


There is an economic reason behind lifting of the ban; it will make money for the government. It is debatable though if this will affect local rice production positively/negatively. However, I will place my bet on this to positively help local production due to the very high duties presently being introduced.

Nigeria does not still produce enough rice to meet its local consumption, therefore, most of the rice we consume is still imported. Even with the ban in place, Nigeria still imports roughly the same quantity of rice but instead of the rice importers paying import duties to the government, they simply pay this money to smugglers. With the lifting of the ban, a lot of importers would rather pay duties to the customs instead of spending roughly the same amount as bribe to smugglers (who are mostly even customs officers). With the higher duties being imposed now, imported rice would still be more expensive and this would give room for competition for local rice.

In summary, nothing much has changed in terms of encouraging/discouraging local production however, the monies which hitherto accrued to smugglers would now accrue to the government.

Funjosh:
Long over due.

Segadem:
it is u that did not read the news.
pls answer these question faithfully

How many time did u eat local rice this year?
Don't u think the imported rice u have been eating were smuggled in?
Don't u think these smugglers enriched the labouring countries?
Oga Rome was not built in a day,before we can ban foreign rice outrightly ,let our supply out way our demand.

Segadem:
wetin u know self? the your "acclaimed self sufficient rice production" cannot feed Lagosians one day not talk of the whole Nigeria.
How many of these your self sufficient rice dhey for market?
Do u know how many tonnes of rice smuggled into this country per day?

NB I'm not against local production but when locally made food supply can not meet-up the demand of a nation,then why banning the importation ? that's criminal

Kagarko:
Nice and Great

This government is working

Nobody cares about the wailing of the wailers.

God Bless Nigeria and Nigerians.

Toks2008:


And the good news is that with this policy,the best type of rice i know which is "special" will be as cheap as 9k compared to the present 12k because now that even you can bring it in if you have teh financial power,competition will be welcomed.

I pray Buhari lives long to rule the second term.This man means well for us.

Beremx:
"special rice ought to be cheaper than 9k sef. Honestly you don't know how happy i am about this news.

God bless PMB

BobUg28:
This is good I must say. The purpose wasn't to discourage local production. It's one of the measures to boast our IGR.

I'm in support of the move. Thank God for the policy. It'll help reduce the cost of rice in the market. Am a trader, dealing basically on imported rice; Thailand, Vietnam, Indian, and basmati rice...During the period when the importation of foreign rice was banned, it grossly affected our market price. But watch out now that it has been approved, the price'll gradually reduce.

CHANGE!!!

teeboila:
ban rice, ban generator, we all suspect this with the reformation of the customs.

RevDesmondJuju:
wetin this zombie go yarn now?

 Feeling sarcastic