NIGERIA- The Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), has
ordered the immediate removal of rice from import restriction list and
the re-introduction of import duty payment at land borders.
The
Public Relations Officer of customs, Mr Wale Adeniyi, made this known in
an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in
Abuja.
He said that 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 added that 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 reognise 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.“
NAN recalls that before the ban on rice importation, customs had placed different rate of levy on rice imports.
NAN also recalls that 30 per cent levy was placed on rice millers (preferential levy) and 70 per cent for rice importers.
The essence of the different rates of levy was to encourage local production.
(NAN)
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