ABUJA – DIRECTOR-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali, rtd, has explained that he decided to lift the ban on importation of rice through land borders due largely to the great increase in the activities of smugglers of the commodity, which he noted was largely reducing the revenue generation of the agency.
He also said the high number of death of personnel coupled with other associated risks they were facing in the course of pursuing the smugglers contributed to his decision.
Speaking when he appeared before the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Import Duty Waivers,to explain why he reversed the Federal Government policy on rice importation, Col. Ali insisted that his agency decided to lift the ban because smuggling of the commodity was so common in the nation’s land borders, leading to great loss of revenue.
He saud: “We decided to lift the ban on rice importation through the land borders because we discovered that we have developed the capacity and then we have the wherewithal to collect duties at the borders and this products are coming through the borders.
“We then agreed that the restriction, which we were convinced was not a pro-government policy, but a restriction placed by us, so we say, let us lift the restrictions and collect money because we need money and these people needs to bring their rice.
“If don’t allow them, the alternative is that they will smuggle it and we don’t want it especially when we were losing our men daily while trying to stop them . That is what we want, we are all Nigerians.”
The senate committee under the chairmanship of Senator Adamu Aliero, APC, Kebbi Central, had summoned the customs boss to explain reasons behind his alleged unilateral action because land importation of rice was banned by the last administration in the country through a presidential order.
Chairman of the committee, Adamu Aliero, after listening to explanation by the customs boss, however, said whatever policy Ali would put in place must not jeopardize the interest of the Nigerian farmers and other investors in the rice value chain.
He said, “We want a situation whereby our farmers and millers will be protected and that government is committed to achieving self sufficiency in rice production in the next two years as announced by the National Economic Council”
Recall that penultimate week, Senate panel had summoned Ali, for ordering the removal of rice from import restriction list and legalising its importation through land borders.
The senate, based on a resolution passed during plenary presided over by Senator Bukola Saraki, asked the customs boss to appear before it’s Ad- hoc committee on Import Duty Waivers to explain reasons behind his action.
The senators noted that the action was beyond the brief of Ali, because the order restricting rice importation through land borders was a presidential one , issued in 2011.
The resolution was sequel to a motion moved by Aliero, supported by 28 other senators.
Aliero in the motion titled: “The Danger Posed by the Removal of Rice from Import Restriction List and the Re- Introduction of Import Duty Payment at Land Borders”, said “lifting the ban placed on rice import through land borders by the Custom boss would be counterproductive to the gains already made from the ban placed on the commodity within the last four years.”
According to him, the latest action on rice importation from the custom boss looks suspicious as the ban on rice importation through land borders, was due to customs woeful failure to man the borders.
He also alleged that the action would affect the collection of the needed import duty from rice importers aside other detrimental effects it posed on local producers.
He added that the ban on rice imports through land borders had to a very great extent, reduced cross border smuggling which he noted , would be escalated if the Custom boss recent policy statement was not reversed.
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Senator Aliero seem to be oblivious of the realities on ground in the country. His statements shows that our senators, leaders and members of the political class live in a different Nigeria. What Col. Hameed has done and his reasons for doing it is in tune with current realities. Banning land importation of rice has only feathered the nest of big sea importers who have formed an oligopoly, to the detriment of honest traders who want to just make a living by importing through land borders in smaller quantities. Also. The col. Has come to realize that whether they like it or not these people will never stop bringing in this item legally or illegally. Why? Because their is great demand for it, and even the big time sea importers cannot satisfy the demand alone, they are just being greedy and selfish. So he thought why do we then continue to loose revenue, and lives on this. In the United State, when bootlegging became a big problem, what did the government do. They legalized alcohol and taxed it. Thus, for me, col Hameed’s decision is a wise one. What the government of Nigeria needs to do now is to ensure that we attain that self sufficiency in time, and I assure you that nobody will need to force Nigerians to buy made in Nigeria rice, as long as it’s of international standard and is cheaper. So, senator Aliero, should stop sounding as if he is trying to protect the interest of the big sea importers as against the interest of millions of hungry Nigerian! ‘Live and let’s live’