Customs lifts ban on importation of rice

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Col.
Hameed Ali (rtd), has, Wednesday, ordered
the immediate lifting of the ban on rice
importation from import restriction list and
the re-introduction of import duty payment
at land borders.
The Public Relations Officer of customs, Mr
Wale Adeniyi, said this in an interview with
newsmen 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 also said 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
re-organize 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,” he said.