The Tinubu administration is considering suspending tariffs on rice and other food commodities’ imports for 150 days to rein in hunger nationwide.

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga told Peoples Gazette that a memo was already circulating across government departments, even though the policy was not imminent as of Monday evening.

The memo leaked online Monday to nationwide excitement, but the president’s spokesman said it was a regrettable error.

“The policy was mistakenly circulated,” Mr Onanuga told The Gazette by telephone Monday evening. “We are still deliberating internationally from the agric ministry to other agencies on how best to proceed with the policy.”

Mr Onanuga apologised for the error and said the government was not oblivious to its potential impact on longsuffering Nigerians.

The Gazette was in the process of publishing the draft when clarification came from Mr Onanuga that it was yet unfinished. It came as reports that a frustrated citizen attempted to jump to his death from a 40-metre-high radio transmitter gripped the country.

The retracted policy draft said the measures would be implemented over the next 180 days and involve relaxing duties, tariffs and taxes on importing certain food commodities through land and sea borders.

Mr Tinubu’s administration, which kicked off in May 2023, has faced growing anger among Nigerians over its failure to address endemic food shortages urgently, even as inflation hovered at historically high figures. In recent weeks, the government has tried to address the issue by calling on Nigerians to plant food at subsistence levels, with First Lady Remi Tinubu leading the charge with a cash price for households.

But this approach has seen its share of mockery, as citizens took online to decry how futile it would be to expect over 200 million citizens to farm their way to food sustainability when massive importation would suffice.


https://gazettengr.com/tinubus-removal-of-tariffs-on-rice-other-food-items-still-under-consideration-not-yet-official-bayo-onanuga/

No policy is EVER firmed up.

I knew it will be hard for Mr Tax collector to suspend tax on food

If Tinubu no collect Tax, how he want see money steal and enjoy lavish lifestyle

How can a serious nation elect somebody like Tinubu as its leader
Well what you see is what you get

Who are the enemies of state leaking official documents?, it's been one too many. Heads need to roll to serve as a strict warning to others.

Okay!

surgical:
How can a serious nation elect somebody like Tinubu as its leader
Well what you see is what you get

Is Tinubu not competent enough to be president? Yes,we have economic challenges at the moment but Mr. President is trying all his best to proffer solution. PBAT is still far better than the ex-Governor who could not solve common erosion problem for 8years

kunle4toyeyaho:
Is Tinubu not competent enough to be president? Yes,we have economic challenges at the moment but Mr. President is trying all his best to proffer solution. PBAT is still far better than the ex-Governor who could not solve common erosion problem for 8years

Lagos was flooded just yesterday

APC and incompetence
What APC and tinubu have shown us is that it is easy to cook vegetables with mouth, as in, the football spectator nor dey make mistake

Nlfpmod, tax collector will never leave the huge revenues. The builder, Akanbi omo olodo ide.

Take emilokan government serious at your own peril.very inconsistent and unreliable set of people

Sad....

Ojuntana:

Lagos was flooded just yesterday

after flood comes your erosion Mr man,your problem is stiffer and more complex.a blind person doesn’t mock a one eyed,the Lagos flood gradually drains as the rain stops but your gully erosion leaves more sorrow,tears and destruction.a pot can in no fairness call a kettle black.

What happened to dry season farming output? Too much propaganda.

Why would he remove the tarrif when we have rice pyramids unveiled recently in Abuja. Govt of propaganda. Ndi oshi

Lanretoye:
after flood comes your erosion Mr man,your problem is stiffer and more complex.a blind person doesn’t mock a one eyed,the Lagos flood gradually drains as the rain stops but your gully erosion leaves more sorrow,tears and destruction.a pot can in no fairness call a kettle black.

See explanation. Flooding is better than erosion according to you. Let's Google which has killed people more between the two.
BTW, who is the pot and who is the kettle? You should be mindful of where you stand before applying idioms

Who cares !!!!

Ojuntana:

Lagos was flooded just yesterday

Cities in advanced countries were also flooded.so,it is not peculiar to Lagos alone

AgubataAkokwa:
Why would he remove the tarrif when we have rice pyramids unveiled recently in Abuja. Govt of propaganda. Ndi oshi

Ojuntana:

See explanation. Flooding is better than erosion according to you. Let's Google which has killed people more between the two.
BTW, who is the pot and who is the kettle? You should be mindful of where you stand before applying idioms

Ojuntana:

See explanation. Flooding is better than erosion according to you. Let's Google which has killed people more between the two.
BTW, who is the pot and who is the kettle? You should be mindful of where you stand before applying idioms

perhaps the erosion came without a flood,just call it earthquake.
You need to be told that gully erosion is caused by flood,in fact worst than Lagos flood.it is just insane for someone who is experiencing erosion to be mocking someone who is flooded.

Lanretoye:
perhaps the erosion came without a flood,just call it earthquake.
You need to be told that gully erosion is caused by flood,in fact worst than Lagos flood.it is just insane for someone who is experiencing erosion to be mocking someone who is flooded.

It seems you're confused
You mocked erosion when you know it is caused by flooding. Where's your common sense

PressMyButton:
Who are the enemies of state leaking official documents?, it's been one too many. Heads need to roll to serve as a strict warning to others.

when they were leaking documents to APC/ sahara reporters under GEJ they were not enemies abi.

Ojuntana:

It seems you're confused
You mocked erosion when you know it is caused by flooding. Where's your common sense

na you lack understanding,I’m talking people mocking Lagos flood while they are experiencing erosion in their own village.which one is worst?

No policy is EVER firmed up.

These people aren't just greedy they also lack common sense

Lanretoye:
na you lack understanding,I’m talking people mocking Lagos flood while they are experiencing erosion in their own village.which one is worst?

Who mocked Lagos flood

Lol.

Smoke and mirrors.

Which is better in the long term? Fighting herdsmen and bandits destroying farms or 0% duty on food imports

There are so many MAD PEOPLE on nairaland all in d name of supporting a loon

An example will suffice.

Under buhari to enter my farm from AMASC in Owode Idiroko is 500#but now it is 1500#.

Proforce under buhari is about 3500 but now it is about 8500#

Cote D'Ivoire cutlass is about 3500# but now it is 7500#

To pay annual farm workers now is about 800k minus feeding oo and some ma Sa nfani are here shouting on your mandate we stand ògûn má pa gbogbo yin nï. Mod you can ban me I don't care.

Kònì ye Tínubu

iwaeda:
The Tinubu administration is considering suspending tariffs on rice and other food commodities’ imports for 150 days to rein in hunger nationwide.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga told Peoples Gazette that a memo was already circulating across government departments, even though the policy was not imminent as of Monday evening.
The memo leaked online Monday to nationwide excitement, but the president’s spokesman said it was a regrettable error.
“The policy was mistakenly circulated,” Mr Onanuga told The Gazette by telephone Monday evening. “We are still deliberating internationally from the agric ministry to other agencies on how best to proceed with the policy.”
Mr Onanuga apologized for the error and said the government was not oblivious to its potential impact on longsuffering Nigerians.

Longsuffering Nigerians! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

This move will not reduce cost of food materials. Why? because Nigerians are diabolical themselves. They will still maintain the high prices and see how they can further exploit this. The average Nigerian that's "crying" for justice and "fighting" oppression will oppress his fellows if he gets the opportunity to be up there.