The Nigerian Customs Service has released a press statement on the continous ban on the importation of Rice, contrary to the reports circulating over the weekend on the removal of the embargo placed on the border for Rice imports.
The statement, which was signed by Wale Adeniyi, the Nigerian Customs Service PRO, for the Comptroller -General of Customs, draws the attention of the public to the false news and restates its resolve to continue the ban on rice importation.
Read the full statement below:
“The attention of the Nigeria Customs, have been drawn to the reports from various online platform notifying the public on the reversal of Rice importation through the land borders.
The false reports making rounds can be attributed to a press statement released last year by the Service Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller Wale Adeniyi.
In view of this publications, it is important to re-state the government ‘s stance on this matter, and to clarify general public that the importation of Rice remains banned through our Land borders, but are still allowed through the Ports, subject to payment of extant charges.
The Nigeria Customs Service will also like to assert it’s confidence in the ability of the Nigeria rice producers to fill in the existing shortage of supply in the product.
The service is convinced that the bumper harvest expected from these efforts, will create availability of the product and cover every supply gap in 2017.
It is worrisome to allow the continuous wastage of scarce forex on a commodity that can be produced locally and thus amounts to economic wastage at a time of recession.
Therefore, the service is advocating a total Ban on Rice importation into Nigeria with effect from 2017.
The Customs Service suspects that some people behind Rice smuggling are accountable for the publication of this false reports and therefore condemn such an act, which can create confusion under the circumstances of the present economy.
We therefore, urge all Nigerians to watch out for similar antics as the firm stand on Rice smuggling will pitch their selfish interest against our national interest.”