Tag Archives: Rice Import

Tambuwal Urges Nigerian Govt To End Rice Import Waiver

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The current waiver regime enjoyed by rice importers is hampering local production of the commodity and should be phased out by the Nigerian government, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, has stated.

Mr. Tambuwal gave the advice when he received the new Customs Area Controller for Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi states, Muhammad Kabir.
The governor said preliminary studies undertaken showed that despite efforts to boost local rice production, unfavourable government policies such as rice import waivers were the impediments to objectives of achieving local self-sufficiency.

The position taken by the Sokoto governor is similar to the one taken by the Nigerian Senate recently on the same matter.

Mr. Tambuwal also said that the quality of rice produced locally is of international standard and far better than many imported into the country. He said his administration would continue to support farmers in rice production to enable them acquire standard facilities that will process their produce.
“We have the potential to meet Africa’s rice needs,” he added.

Read More: premiumtimesng

Reps Summon Finance Minister, Agric Minister Over N21bn Rice Import Duty Waivers

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House of Representatives’ Ad-Hoc committee had summoned Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Coordinating Minister for the Economy and the Minister of Finance and Mr Akinwumi Adesina, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development over the alleged N21 billion waivers granted some rice importers.

Hon. Leo Ogor, chairman of the Ad-Hoc committee, explained that the investigative hearing on ‘Rice import quota and duty payments’ was geared towards uncovering “fraud and exposing the endemic corruption in the importation of rice with a view to stemming the tide and boosting employment generation as well as strengthening the nation’s depleting foreign reserves.”

Ogor noted that Nigeria remains the second largest importer of rice globally with an annual consumption requirement of about 6 million metric tons while its domestic supply is estimated at 3 million metric tons yearly, with a shortfall of 3 million metric tons of milled rice per year.

The lawmakers also frowned at the alleged lapses in the administration of the quota and duty payable on excess importation, querying the powers of the minister of agriculture to grant such waivers on the basis of encouraging investment and job creation to the detriment of local investors.

Ogor lamented that the gross abuse of the Federal Government’s fiscal policy measures on rice under which the incentives were granted has led to duty evasion; retroactive quota allocation by the ministry; and quotas being skewed in favour of speculative investors who have no real investment on ground to show for their interest in rice.

“The minister does not have the powers to allocate rice import or production quota to any company and then waive duties because the corresponding revenue involved is for the entire federation which consists of the three tiers of government. The minister should stop deceiving himself thinking that he acts for every tier of government,” Ogor noted.

Credit: vanguardngr