Finally, Customs Removes Ban On Importation Of Rice

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, made this known in an
interview with the News Agency of Nigeria
(NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
He said the restriction was only applied at
land border stations before now, adding
that the customs boss had lifted restriction
on rice at border stations.
Adeniyi said that all rice imports through
land borders by rice traders would attract
the prevailing import duty of 10 per cent
with 60 per cent levy.
He added that rice millers (preferential levy)
with valid quota allocation would also
attract duty rate of 10 per cent with 20 per
cent 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 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 reognise 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. `