The Nigerian Customs Service has stated that rice was not included in items to benefit from the zero import duties and taxes, days after announcing the commencement of the FG zero tariff policy.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu’s administration in a statement announced the suspension of tariff on importation of brown rice, grain sorghum, millet, maize, wheat, and beans for a period of 150.days.
The FG said the policy was aimed at mitigating the hardships faced by Nigerians due to skyrocketing cost of food items accusation by uncontrollable food inflation.
But in a dramatic twist and what appears to be an affront to the President’s directive, the Customs Service are now contending that rice was not part of the items in the zero tariff policy.
Addressing journalists, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, said nothing has changed in the importation of rice, saying the policy only allows duty-free on rice paddies.
He said “Nothing has changed in the importation of rice. Nothing in this physical measure says rice would be brought in through the border. Nothing has changed in the importation of rice.
“Apart from the fact that brown rice or rice paddies would be allowed duty-free, that is the only amendment to physical policy. So, the extent of rice policy remains the same.
“Importation through the land border is still restricted, and of course, it is already removed from items that could access forex.,” Mr Adeniyi stated.
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