Rice importation through land borders still banned — Customs

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has confirmed that the federal government maintains its restriction on rice importation through land borders.

NCS Comptroller-General, Bashir Adeniyi, made this clarification to journalists during a routine inspection at the Apapa port on Friday.

According to Adeniyi, nothing in the newly approved fiscal measures includes the importation of rice.

He, however, stated that some varieties of rice are still being imported into the country for those who have access to foreign exchange to import it.

He noted that these small packages are not listed under the prohibition act of the Customs Service.

“There is nothing in these fiscal measures that states that rice will be brought in through the border. Nothing has changed in the importation of rice apart from the fact that brown rice or rice paddy will be allowed duty-free,” he said.

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“That is the only amendment to the fiscal policy. The extant policy on rice still remains the same; importation through the land border is still restricted.

“Of course, it’s already removed from the items that could not access forex, so those who have the money can still bring it in.

“You know that periodically, we still have rice imported into the port, some of them in smaller packages. Those are not under the import prohibition act yet,” Adeniyi said.

Due to the announcement of the temporary suspension of import duties on selected food items into the country, the Nigeria Customs issued guidelines for those seeking to participate in the importation of food items.

The food items are husked brown rice, grain sorghum, millet, maize, wheat, and beans, with the intent to lower food prices in the country.

The policy took effect on July 15 and will remain in force until December 31, 2024.