Nigeria loses N9.7b to rice smuggling- Agric minister
NIGERIA may have lost an estimated N9.7 billion to evasion of duty payments, through rice smuggling.
Specifically, findings by The Guardian showed that an estimated 80,000 metric tonnes of rice is expected to be smuggled into the country through the Benin Republic axis.
Although, the Nigeria Customs Service dismissed this, saying that its men have received directives to enforce the zero tolerance on rice importation, investigations by The Guardian still reveals evidences of smuggled rice being repackaged into sacks of popular brands.
Hitherto, the Chairman, Presidential Committee, Rice Price Benchmark, Dhiru Ado Kurawa, during the committee’s visit to Olam farm project in Doma, Nassarawa State, had noted that the price of rice may rise due to the ban on importation of the staple food in order to enhance local production, but urged Nigerians to endure and not encourage the activities of smugglers by patronising them.
Indeed, investments in the rice production sector presently stands at N106 billion in backward integration.
One of the major rice dealers in Daleko market, who spoke with The Guardian under the condition of anonymity, explained that many brands of smuggled rice find their way into the market and many of such brands are often re-bagged or mixed into bags of popular brands and sold to unsuspecting customers.
She added that besides the fact that customers are often short-changed, such acts have continued to affect legitimate businesses in the market, as well as the revenue to be generated by government.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) of Zone A, Ikeja, Mr. Uche, said: “Following the matching order from the Comptroller General of Customs, Dikko Abdullahi, to all Customs Area Comptrollers on ensuring zero tolerance on importation of rice through the land borders, our unit has been engaging stakeholders at the border areas to ensure the enforcement of this directive.
“Recently, we had a meeting with the representatives of Daleko Market Rice Sellers Association in order to create awareness on some banned products and we gave them the list of legitimate rice importers and their brands under the auspices of the Rice Millers, Importers and Distributors Association of Nigeria (RiMIDAN). The meeting will be a continuous one to ensure that Nigeria’s rice self-sufficiency goal is attained.”
He however, solicited the support of stakeholders in providing adequate information for intelligence gathering in order to address the issue.
He said: “Collaborations with other security agencies have led to a massive seizure of 8000 bags of 50kg parboiled rice along the Seme-Badagry creeks. We have also identified the flashpoints where we are intensifying surveillance”.
Nigeria’s yearly consumption of rice is about 5.5 million metric tonnes. While 1.8 million is produced locally, the country relies on importation to make up the balance of 3.7 million metric tonnes.
Specifically, findings by The Guardian showed that an estimated 80,000 metric tonnes of rice is expected to be smuggled into the country through the Benin Republic axis.
Although, the Nigeria Customs Service dismissed this, saying that its men have received directives to enforce the zero tolerance on rice importation, investigations by The Guardian still reveals evidences of smuggled rice being repackaged into sacks of popular brands.
Hitherto, the Chairman, Presidential Committee, Rice Price Benchmark, Dhiru Ado Kurawa, during the committee’s visit to Olam farm project in Doma, Nassarawa State, had noted that the price of rice may rise due to the ban on importation of the staple food in order to enhance local production, but urged Nigerians to endure and not encourage the activities of smugglers by patronising them.
Indeed, investments in the rice production sector presently stands at N106 billion in backward integration.
One of the major rice dealers in Daleko market, who spoke with The Guardian under the condition of anonymity, explained that many brands of smuggled rice find their way into the market and many of such brands are often re-bagged or mixed into bags of popular brands and sold to unsuspecting customers.
She added that besides the fact that customers are often short-changed, such acts have continued to affect legitimate businesses in the market, as well as the revenue to be generated by government.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) of Zone A, Ikeja, Mr. Uche, said: “Following the matching order from the Comptroller General of Customs, Dikko Abdullahi, to all Customs Area Comptrollers on ensuring zero tolerance on importation of rice through the land borders, our unit has been engaging stakeholders at the border areas to ensure the enforcement of this directive.
“Recently, we had a meeting with the representatives of Daleko Market Rice Sellers Association in order to create awareness on some banned products and we gave them the list of legitimate rice importers and their brands under the auspices of the Rice Millers, Importers and Distributors Association of Nigeria (RiMIDAN). The meeting will be a continuous one to ensure that Nigeria’s rice self-sufficiency goal is attained.”
He however, solicited the support of stakeholders in providing adequate information for intelligence gathering in order to address the issue.
He said: “Collaborations with other security agencies have led to a massive seizure of 8000 bags of 50kg parboiled rice along the Seme-Badagry creeks. We have also identified the flashpoints where we are intensifying surveillance”.
Nigeria’s yearly consumption of rice is about 5.5 million metric tonnes. While 1.8 million is produced locally, the country relies on importation to make up the balance of 3.7 million metric tonnes.
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