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. `

For those that can't go down... Read!:
Damn it.

Maybe I am the only one seeing this in another angle.

1. Nigerians so much love "IMPORTED GOODS".

2. FG banned the importation of rice.

As a result of 2, many people invested in rice businesses ( cultivation of local rice in large quantity and milling in local industries)

3. Many people started investing in rice cultivation and so on, so as to take the advantage to make more money, create employment, and even ease up a bit the demand for fx (fx being sourced for the importations of this very goods).

4. Investors have invested, purchase of lands, setting up machineries and are patiently waiting for cultivation time (many who invested in rice are saying that their produce will be ready by December).

5.all of a sudden, FG, just lifts ban on importation of same rice.

IMPLICATIONS.

1. What will be the fate of all those that ventured into rice farming and all that? I guess the market will no longer be favourable to them ( Nigerians love anything FOREIGN).

2. From what I read up there. It says that restrictions are on land/boarders" which means, it is allowed for Nigerians to import rice into countries like Benin republic, chad and even Niger, pay customs duty to their ports, pay all tax associated with importation in their country, clear the goods,(all these money is going into the coffers of the respective countries). And then brings it into Nigeria via the boarders and then still pay (who will bear the cost of all these spendings? I guess, the final consumers). Now who is cheating who and who is fooling who?

3. What if the market is not favourable to those who invested in rice farming, thereby making them loose or unable to recover the money spent. Do we still think these people will remain in business or fold up? ( govt is meant to create an enabling environment to investors who are investing en mass for the 1st timeM at least to boost their confidence in the govt).


To me, I think this is lack of govt policy( make a strong policy and stand my it.

To me, many people will not want to invest in Naija because of their lack of strong and firm policies,( they can twist and change anytime) what investors need is being steady with your policies. I think this will affect Naija in other sectors or areas.




In as much as it will ease some pains on the immediate , but what about long run?

It does not make sense to me, u told me to stand in the rain for some time to enable u fix the roof of my house properly, I accepted to, having in mind that it will be fixed properly so that it will last me a long time, but half way into the repairs, u asked me to come that u will fix it anyhow for me to stay for the mean time( u didn't do it properly, which means it will still spoil soon).




Anyways, I might be very wrong, but this is what I thought.

We have been enduring for some time, why not beg us to remain steadfast? As there is light at the end of the tunnel? It shows that they lacked the will power to stand to their words. No economy survives with policy and counter policies. - Original Post By chigozie7.

TPAND:
Buhari is so inconsistent and disoriented.

Just this week, you tighten security at the borders against imported rice via land saying they were harmful for consumption, today you lifting the ban on imported rice by land.

Sai Baba is a typical aboki, a pathological no-brainer

TPAND:
Buhari is so inconsistent and disoriented.

Just this week, you tighten security at the borders against imported rice via land saying they were harmful for consumption, today you lifting the ban on imported rice by land.

Sai Baba is a typical aboki, a pathological no-brainer

donphilopus:


You're the dull@rd here Mr Man. Buhari didn't tighten security at the borders because imported rice were harmful for consumption. What they said was that, as a result of the ban of rice, importers were importing rice with coffins and mixing rice with other harmful substances so they could evade arrest at the border.

Try and use your brain next time. You don't just rush to term the President a dull@rd at any given opportunity.

Ishilove:
.

TPAND:
Buhari is so inconsistent and disoriented.

Just this week, you tighten security at the borders against imported rice via land saying they were harmful for consumption, today you lifting the ban on imported rice by land.

Sai Baba is a typical aboki, a pathological no-brainer

TPAND:
Buhari is so inconsistent and disoriented.

Just this week, you tighten security at the borders against imported rice via land saying they were harmful for consumption, today you lifting the ban on imported rice by land.

Sai Baba is a typical aboki, a pathological no-brainer

Grundig:
I've got mixed feelings about this. But, most importantly, there'd be rice, CHEAP RICE this December. Shouldn't be more than 12k per bag.