The Senate has summoned the Nigeria Customs Service Comptroller-General, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), to appear and brief it on issues surrounding the removal of rice from the import restriction list.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Mohammed Adamu Aliero, All Progressives Congress, Kebbi Central and supported by 28 others, stating the dangers posed by the removal of rice from import restriction list and the re-introduction of import duty payment at land borders.
Based on a resolution passed at the end of the debate, the Senators urged Ali to appear before it’s Ad- hoc committee on Import Duty Waivers to explain reasons behind his action. The lawmakers noted that the customs boss acted beyond his mandate in that regard, insisting that the order restricting rice importation through land borders was a Presidential Directive.
Aliero noted that lifting the ban placed on rice import through land borders by the Customs boss would be counterproductive to the gains already made from the ban within the last four years.
“Since 2009, government has been making effort to see that Nigeria becomes self sufficient in rice production. “But up till now, we are far away from the target” adding that there was no rationale behind asking importers to clear rice through land borders.
“Recently, the Comptroller General said importers should bring rice and clear at the land borders contrary to the directive of the President. Adding: “I brought this motion to protect our farmers. Every nation does it but here in Nigeria, we allow foreign importation at the detriment of our country. We are exporting labour and importing poverty”, Aliero said.
