Senate invites Customs CG over lifting ban on rice importation

as ministerial screening continues Tuesday

The Senate has invited Hameed Ali, comptroller-general of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to explain the reason behind the lifting of ban on rice importation.

This is sequel to a motion sponsored by Adamu Aliero (APC, Kebbi Central) and 28 other senators at Thursday plenary.

The motion titled: “The danger posed by the removal of rice from Import Restriction List and the Re-introduction of import Duty Payment at Land Borders,” expressed concern that the unilateral decision of the Customs CG to re-open the country’s land borders to rice importation would reverse the gains recorded in rice production in the country.

Ali had recently ordered the immediate removal of rice from import restriction list and the re-introduction of import duty payment at land borders.

Wale Adeniyi, Customs public relations officer, had said the previous restriction, which only applied at land border stations, had been lifted by the CG, saying all rice imports through land borders by traders would attract the prevailing import duty of 10 percent with 60 percent levy.

But in his submission, Aliero argued that the unilateral decision by the Customs boss would not only pose danger on local rice production but also discourage further investment in rice farming and agro-allied industries.

According to him, Nigeria is presently the world largest importer of rice, as the Ministry of Agriculture has projected that the demand for rice will continue to rise from the current level of 5 million metric tons to 36 million metric tons by 2050.

Quoting figures from the Ministry of Agriculture, he gave the national supply gap at 1.5 million metric tons deficit.

Other senators, who contributed to the motion including Emmanuel Bwacha, Shehu Sani, Dino Melaye, Foster Ogola, submitted that rather than reverse the orders of the Customs’ boss, he should be given fair hearing.

The Senate therefore invited the CG to brief the Ad-hoc Committee on Import Duty Waivers.

Speaking further on the matter, Senate president, Bukola Saraki, who presided over the session, said: “The only reason we are talking about this is that we really need to give the CG a chance to explain why the decision was taken.

“As long as we say we want to be self-sufficient and we reverse policies like these, it is going to be very difficult. It is clear that importation of rice through our neighbouring countries is an attempt to bypass not paying the right duties.”

In another development, the Senate failed to screen the remaining 18 ministerial nominees on yesterday.

Although names of the nominees were not indicated in the Order Paper, Senate spokesperson told newsmen that screening would resume next week Tuesday to enable lawmakers study the CVs of the nominees.

In addition, he said the report of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions was not ready, hence, former Governor Rotimi Amaechi was not screened.

Ibrahim Gobir (APC, Sokoto East) had earlier presented a petition against a ministerial nominee from his state, Aisha Abubakar, for being ‘incompetent.’

Other nominees yet to be screened include: Wahab Shittu; former chairman, Senate Committee on Water Resources in the seventh Senate, Heineken Lokpobiri; Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Isaac Adewole; Kadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim; Claudius Omoleye Daramola, Anthony Anwuka and Adebayo Shittu.