Nigerian Government Policy on Rice Importation

Rice is indeed a big deal in the country of Nigeria. People really loved eating rice. They usually choose between fried rice, white rice and jollof from the local restaurants. Rice is also the very basis of national dish jollof. The country is indeed famous for rice importation. Due to this fact, Nigerian government policy on rice importation has existed to protect the interest of the country and the local people.

The Minister also mentioned that Nigeria, with an arable area of about 160,000 hectres, is also the second biggest importer of rice around the world. He also asserted that the country can grow rice and could reduce the dependence on rice imports from Thailand and India. He also mentioned that it is about time for the country to grow locally and reduce national insecurity.

The government of Goodluck Jonathan is now making an effort of major substitution drive on other commodities and rice under the Agenda of Agricultural Transformation. The country is now implementing high tariffs on the rice. In addition to that, it is placing minimum prices and buying paddy rice from the country farmers. Nigeria is also putting in place a minimum price for rice with the government being the buyer of last resort. This will therefore ensure incentives for the sake of farmers.

As per the latest update on Nigerian Government Policy on Rice Importation, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh has clarified that government has not banned any importation of agricultural produce including rice. Government is strictly against the smuggling of rice, as long as it comes through the port after paying all the taxes, it has no issues. This will therefore help encourage local producers to produce more rice varieties.

In this statement, it is particularly signed by none other than Mr. Adeniyi in Abuja. The service was somehow disturbed by several reports that emphasized that customs has turned around the rice importation ban via land borders.

Nevertheless, there were strong and powerful forces behind the smuggling of rice. This only basically creates confusion. It was then somehow reiterated that the smuggling of rice runs through the land borders. The stakeholders and government agencies have the deepest level of commitment to enforce such restriction.

This restriction is now already in force. Nevertheless, rice imports via ports are actually still allowed. This is also subjected to payment of more charges.

The Nigerian Government strongly believed that the continuous waste of the scarce rice which could be produced locally makes economic injustice. This is especially during the times of recession. It is also important to bring back the confidence that the customs once had in the Nigerian rice producers. This way, it will be a lot easier to fill the sufficiency gaps in the supply of rice.

The customs had now implemented rice revolution along with strategic interventions and state governments. These are all a part of Nigerian Government Policy on Rice Importation!

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