Customs Explains Delay in Implementation of Tinubu's Duty-free Import of Rice, Other Food Items

• The Nigerian customs has revealed the reason President Tinubu's duty-free food importation policy has been halted
• The customs spokesman stated that the agency was awaiting the finance ministry's green light to implement the directive
• It added that the ministry had yet to submit the list of beneficiaries eligible for the tax exemptions

Legit.ng journalist Zainab Iwayemi has over three years of experience covering the Economy, Technology, and Capital Market.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced that it will begin suspending duties on imported food items once it receives a list of eligible beneficiaries from the Ministry of Finance.

This follows a directive issued nearly two months ago by the federal government to halt duties, tariffs, and taxes on food imports via land and sea routes in an effort to curb inflation.

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On August 14, the NCS confirmed that the policy had been put into action, allowing the importation of items such as maize, brown husked rice, beans, millet, and wheat.

The waiver, effective from July 15 and running through December 31, is part of the government's strategy to tackle rising food prices nationwide.

Why Tinubu's duty-free import has not been enforced

Abdullahi Maiwada, the spokesperson for the NCS, made remarks on Thursday, September 5, during a joint press briefing held by security agencies under the strategic communications inter-agency policy committee (SCIPC) in Abuja.

During the briefing, Maiwada provided updates, stating that the directive has not yet been enforced as the Ministry of Finance has yet to submit the list of beneficiaries eligible for the tax exemptions.

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He said:

“So, the list of those who benefit from those exemptions will come from the ministry of finance and our role as an agency of government is to implement the directives of the government. So we are policy implementers, not formulators.

“So, by the time we get those lists, within the twinkle of an eye, we are going to implement those directives from the federal ministry of finance.”

Maiwada explained that the Ministry of Finance has released guidelines outlining the conditions and requirements for participating in the zero import duty program.

According to TheCable, Maiwada stated that the NCS generated N277.5 billion in import duties during August.

He also noted that the service collected N15.8 billion in excise duties, highlighting its dedication to maximising revenue collection.

Meanwhile, a lot of Nigerians have expressed their frustration on the turn out of some of the economic policies chuned out by the present administration.

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Ikechukwu Peter told Legit.ng that how the hopes he had turned into disappointment.

He said,

"Rather than become better, the country is becoming worse day by day that we can hardly aford a three square meall these days."

Ola Abosede said,

"The major problem is the increase in food price. Once that is sorted, I believe that Nigeria will become better."

FG sells 50kg bag of rice for N40k

In related news, Legit.ng reported that the Nigerian government has begun the sale of 30,000 metric tonnes of milled rice to Nigerians

President Bola Tinubu disclosed at the event's flag-off that the rice is strictly one man, one bag, and one woman, one bag.

The rice would be sold at a flat rate of N40,000 as part of FG's intervention to subsidise milled rice and ease the prevailing food crisis.

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Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng