The Nigeria Customs Service has made it clear that President Bola Tinubu’s recent endorsement of duty-free importation for major food commodities including rice does not permit importation through land borders.
During a press briefing in Abuja ,Bashir Adeniyi who is the Comptroller General of Nigerian Customs maintained that there was no change regarding importation of rice; saying that this policy permits only duty-free rice paddies.
The importation of rice remains unchanged. This physical measure does not mention how rice would be imported. Nothing has changed in the importation of rice. The only amendment to the physical policy is that brown rice or rice paddies would be allowed duty-free. Therefore, the rice policy still remains unchanged.
Importation through the land border is still restricted and, of course, it is already removed from items eligible for foreign exchange,” said Mr Adeniyi.
While food prices are high, President Tinubu approved duty-free importation for rice, beans and wheat, as hunger continues to plague Nigerians because of the current administration’s economic policies.
According to a statement from Bayo Onanuga, who is the President’s spokesman, Agriculture Minister, Abubakar Kyari said,“ President Tinubu approved a 150-day duty-free import window for food commodities, including maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas.”
Following the announcement by President Tinubu to abolish the petrol subsidy and float the naira, allowing its value to be determined by market forces, last year, Nigerians have been battling with high food prices.
These measures have resulted in an increase in prices of basic food items, such as rice, a fundamental food consumed by many Nigerians. Currently, the price of this commodity varies from N60,000 to N80,000 per 50kg bag, depending on the location of purchase within Nigeria. This same size of bag cost around N30,000 a year ago.
