₦airaland Forum

The Senate on Thursday, October 15, summoned the Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali to brief the committee of the whole on why he lifted the ban on rice through land borders.

This decision was taken after a motion on the dangers posed by the removal of rice from import restriction list and re-introduction of import duty payment on land borders was raised by Muhammed Adamu Aliero representing Kebbi Central.

Aliero said the Senate informed that the ban on rice imports through the land border has reduced cross-border smuggling.

He added that the Senate is concerned that the decision by the Comptroller-General of Customs to liberalize the importation of rice to the extent of lifting the ban on land importation of rice will seriously escalate rice smuggling.

“The Senate is worried that the unilateral and unexpected deciosion of the CG Customs to re-open the country’s land borders to rice importation will reverse the tremendous gains recorded in rice production in the country.



“The Senate also wants to ensure that the agriculture sector is the dependable lifeline of this country is not harmed beyond immediate repair by the policy inconsistency,” he said.
Bukola Saraki, the Senate president who stressed the importance of the motion commended Aliero for bringing it on the floor of the Senate.

“We need to give the CG a chance to explain why the decion was taken and also for the investors to know that a well sought out process before reversal as far as investment is concerned.

“Farming takes a long time as far as agriculture is concered. We must know why. It is clear that importation of rice through this neighbouring countries in most cases is an attempt to try bypass the government. This is because neighboring countries do not eat the same type of rice we eat.”

Meanwhile, most of the lawmakers opposed the motion stating that the motion will make the bourgeois richer.

Although Kabir Marafa representing Zamfara central was one of the lawmakers to oppose the motion, he commended his colleague for bringing the motion.

He also said that the banning will create jobs for the youth but at the same time, its not well intentioned the country.

Dino Melaye representing Kogi West senatorial district also objected the bill.He asked that the CG customs must be summoned.

“We must listen to the Controller General because we have to hear his side of the story to tell the senate why he took the decisions he took,” he said.

James Manager said that rice importation is not good for Nigerians either for air, land or sea.We cannot rush into making decisions like that.


On Wednesday, October 7, the inclusion of rice on the import restriction list has been overturned by the comptroller-general of customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd).

Meanwhile, some bills were presented to the floor of the senate for first reading. Some of the bills are National Planning Process bill, Delegated Legislaton bill, Economic and Financial Crime Commission (establishment,etc) bill 2015, Employment Services Bill 2015, National Liberty Act (ammendment) bll 2015, Employment Services bill 2015.

Others are Local Industry Patronage bill 2015, National Commission for Peace recnconcilliation and meditation bill 2015, environmental managers registration council of Nigeria (establishment,etc) bill 2015, National Political debate commission (establishment,etc)bill 2015, constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 Alteration bil 2015.

https://www.naij.com/605382-senate-summons-cg-customs-hameed-ali-rice-importation.html

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WHEN WE CRITICIZED LIFTING OF THE BAN, THEY CALLED US WAILING WAILERS, BUT GOD HAS VINDICATE US THE WAILERS, I WAS HAPPY SEEING THIS. ALL WAILERS IN THE HOUSE DON'T RELENT AS WE STRIVE AND WAIL FOR BETTER DEMOCRACY.

This will only favour the northerners. The smugglers who are northerner will now flood rice into the country where our borders are loose, evading taxes. It's is very difficult to smuggle rice through our ports.

APC agenda is working.
Integrity my foot

with the hunger in the land, we need more food to be imported. you don't rush to ban importation of the main food of the masses while not making contigency plans to curtail it's effect. It's like doing good thing at the wrong time. Raise waiver and announce when you will lock up the borders and keep to your word while boosting the locals while everything they will need to hold the nation after the borders are closed. my mum sells food stuff and I can tell you that no food feeds the nation more than rice. Go learn some tips from thailand

with the hunger in the land, we need more food to be imported. you don't rush to ban importation of the main food of the masses while not making contigency plans to curtail it's effect. It's like doing good thing at the wrong time. Raise waiver and announce when you will lock up the borders and keep to your word while boosting the locals with everything they will need to hold the nation after the borders are closed. my mum sells food stuff and I can tell you that no food feeds the nation more than rice.

They don't have to summon him to know the truth. Its obvious, to even the blind and ignorant, that the CG of customs must have a stake in the smuggling cartel. Why else would a product, which is slowly getting a standard local substitute, but needs government support, is all of a sudden allowed to be imported into the country.

Great ..i trust Col Ali (rtd.)

House of fools arguing about policies they were suppose to make and have customs enforces it but only in Nigeria will an agency make policies and enforce at the same time MORONS as leaders.

If it was easy to bring thing through the port people won't resort to shipping to Benin first then pay extra to transport to Nigeria.

The racket is Benin is always guaranteed of revenue when these policies are made making me wonder;what is their cut?

maupe:
They don't have to summon him to know the truth. Its obvious, to even the blind and ignorant, that the CG of customs must have a stake in the smuggling cartel. Why else would a product, which is slowly getting a standard local substitute, but needs government support, is all of a sudden allowed to be imported into the country.

Local rice production cannot meet the daily demands of Nigerians. Total ban on rice importation at this point in time will only lead to shortage in supply. Smugglers are simply bringing in the shortage to meet up with local daily demands thereby creating huge revenue loss for the government.

Am sure the CG of Customs noticed this huge revenue loss to the country and so decided to remove rice from the list of banned items.

seunmsg:
Local rice production cannot meet the daily demands of Nigerians. Total ban on rice importation at this point in time will only lead to shortage in supply. Smugglers are simply bringing in the shortage to meet up with local daily demands thereby creating huge revenue loss for the government.

Am sure the CG of Customs noticed this huge revenue loss to the country and so decided to remove rice from the list of banned items.

Then why put it on the list of banned items in the first place. I am sure you were fortunate enough, to witness Kachikwu's lecture on the dangers of the inconsistency of the senate on the PIB, during the ministerial screening. And besides, haven't you heard of the infant industry argument. And also there was never a total ban on rice production. The ban was partial.