Don’t Lift Ban On Rice Importation, Senate Tells Buhari

The Senate has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Nigeria Customs to suspend the lifting of ban on the importation rice through the land borders.

In October, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali, announced that the Federal Government‎ would lift the ban on rice importation through the land borders to improve revenue generation.

Combating smuggling of rice into the country through the porous land borders was another reason cited by Mr. Ali.

Yesterday, the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on‎ import duty waivers, concessions and grants, chaired by Adamu Aliero (APC-Kebbi central), submitted its report after a review of the policy.

The Aliero-led committee recommended that the senate ask the Federal Government to suspend the policy on the grounds that it would escalate rice smuggling into the country.

It added that the customs lacked “the capacity to monitor and control the flow of goods through the land borders”.
Accordingly, the senate adopted the recommendation calling on the government to suspend the policy.

Speaking on the issue, Senate President, Bukola Saraki said “I don’t think we should look at this issue from any sentiment, but from logic.

“We must support our local farmers.

“We strongly advise the customs to suspend the lifting of the ban on importation of rice through the land borders and continue to operate through the sea borders,” he said.