The implementation of suspension of duty and taxes on imported food items is yet to take off almost two months after it was granted by the federal government. The Nigeria Customs Service disclosed this, while explaining the reason the policy has not taken off. Customs said in a statement that the implementation will commence as soon as the service receives the list of beneficiaries from the Ministry of Finance.
About two months ago the federal government directed that the authorities of the Nigeria Customs Services should give a 150-day duty-free window to allow the importation of maize, husked brown rice, and wheat.
The initiative was said to be part of measures to combat rising food inflation across the country.
On August 7, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, said the implementation of the policy would commence the following week when they expected that the guidelines would have been ready.
He explained that the delay experienced in the implementation of the policy was to ensure that the interests of all the stakeholders, including farmers, were considered.
However, while fielding questions at a joint press briefing of security agencies, organised by the Strategic Communications Inter-agency Policy Committee Office of the National Security Adviser, the spokesperson of the NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada said the directive was yet to be implemented because the list of those who will benefit from tax exemptions was yet to come from the Ministry of Finance. He added that by the time the service gets the lists, the directives would be implemented within a twinkle of an eye.
Maiwada said, “The issue of food security. You made mention of the policy that was announced by Mr. President and we have issued a statement on the guidelines on how to benefit from that policy. Well, I would like to discuss in such a way that the common man would understand how these things work.
“People think that me and you can just go and import rice. No, that is not what the policy is all about. We have policy issues that have a long-term effect. We have the medium-term and we have the short-term effects.
“So, while formulating policies that are related that have a short-term effect, we have to do it in such a way that it will not have adverse effects on long-term policy issues. Our responsibility as an agency of government, Nigeria Customs Service, is to implement government policies.
“That’s why the statement we issued is based on the guideline issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance. They have issued a guideline on how to achieve, what are the conditions, and what are the requirements for you to benefit from that zero import duty.”
