Customs Boss Has Lifted Restriction On Rice Importation

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.