Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi has said that the federal government still maintains its stands on the banning of the importation of rice into the country through land borders.
He disclosed this during a routine inspection at the Apapa port, emphasizing that the recently approved fiscal policies pertain specifically to paddy rice and do not alter the existing restrictions on rice importation through land borders.
Adeniyi clarified that the prohibition against land border rice imports remains unchanged.
The Comptroller General said that while some varieties of rice can still be imported into the country—especially by those with access to foreign exchange—these smaller packages are not subject to the Customs Service’s import prohibition.
“The new fiscal measures do not permit rice to be brought in through land borders,” Adeniyi stated. “The only modification to the fiscal policy is that brown rice or rice paddy will be allowed duty-free.”
He maintained that the existing policy still prohibits the importation of rice through land borders.
He added that the only exception is for those with sufficient foreign exchange to import rice in smaller quantities, which are not covered by the prohibition act.
“Periodically, we see rice imported at the port, often in smaller packages. These imports are not currently restricted under the import prohibition act”, Adeniyi added.