The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed that the federal government’s prohibition on rice importation via land borders remains firmly in place.
This clarification was made
amid recent announcements concerning new fiscal measures aimed at food imports,
specifically paddy rice.
Speaking during an inspection
at the Apapa port in Lagos, Comptroller-General of NCS, Adewale Adeniyi,
stressed that while the fiscal policies have been updated, they primarily focus
on brown rice and paddy rice, allowing them to be imported duty-free.
However, these changes do not
affect the existing ban on rice being brought into the country through land
borders.
Adeniyi emphasized, “The new
fiscal measures do not permit rice to be brought in through land borders. The
only modification is that brown rice or rice paddy will now be allowed duty-free.”
He further explained that rice
imported in smaller quantities via the seaports, especially by those with
access to foreign exchange, does not fall under the Customs Service’s import
prohibition.
Periodic inspections reveal
rice being imported at the port, typically in smaller packages.
These imports, according to the Comptroller-General, are not covered by the prohibition act and are allowed under the new fiscal guidelines.
The NCS remains committed to
enforcing this policy across all land borders, maintaining Nigeria’s push
towards local production and food security.
Post a Comment