Information reaching us are anything to go by, the inclusion of rice on the import restriction list has been overturned by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd).
This implies that the import duty payment at land borders will be re-introduced.
This much was disclosed by Customs’ Public Relations Officer, Mr Wale Adeniyi, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria
Coomptroller-General Of Nigeria Customs Service, Hameed Ali
He said: “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 reorganize 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.”
Before the ban on rice importation, customs had placed different rate of levy on rice imports and 30 per cent levy was placed on rice millers (preferential levy) and 70 per cent for rice importers.
The Nigeria Football Federation will still bear grudges against the Customs Service as reports surfaced yesterday that they have impounded imported Golden Eaglets kits ahead of a match with Argentina.