Nigeria customs clarifies rice importation rules amid new fiscal measures

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has clarified that the new fiscal measures on food importation apply only to paddy rice, while the federal government’s restriction on rice importation through land borders remains in place.

NCS Comptroller-General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, made this announcement during an inspection at Apapa port on Friday.

Adeniyi emphasized that the new fiscal policies do not alter the existing ban on rice imports through land borders. However, he noted that some varieties of rice, particularly those brought in by individuals with access to foreign exchange, are still allowed under specific conditions. These smaller packages are not listed under the Customs Service’s prohibition act.

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“Nothing in these fiscal measures states that rice can be brought in through the border. The only amendment is that brown rice or paddy rice will be allowed duty-free. The existing policy on rice remains unchanged, and importation through land borders is still restricted,” Adeniyi said.

Following the federal government’s temporary suspension of import duties on selected food items to curb rising food prices, the NCS issued guidelines for importers. The food items eligible for duty-free import include husked brown rice, grain sorghum, millet, maize, wheat, and beans.

This policy, effective from July 15 to December 31, aims to reduce food inflation, which has soared to nearly 39%, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

To participate, companies must meet specific requirements, such as having milling plants and farmland for cultivation or operating feed mills with an out-grower network. The temporary suspension of import duties is intended to address the country’s food supply deficit without derailing efforts to boost local food production.