Nigerian govt bans Customs from seizing rice in markets

The Federal Government has asked the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) to
stop raiding markets to seize imported rice.

Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, made the disclosure yesterday
in a chat with State House correspondents after a meeting of the
Federal Executive Council (FEC).

She disclosed that government has approved N1.12 billion for the
purchase of 50 operational "anti-rice smuggling" vehicles to check the
persistent smuggling of the commodity into the country".

Her words: "We felt that it is important we don't want customs going
to seize rice in the markets.

"Customs should actually act to stop rice coming in at the border
posts and customs indicated that they need additional vehicles,
additional resources as well as of course other more
information-driven strategies to stop it."

Adeosun explained that the procurement of the operational vehicles was
also meant to stop customs officials from invading markets to seize
smuggled rice and harassing traders.

"The second approval was for the purchase of 50 vehicles and they are
going to be deployed for an anti-rice smuggling task force that is
being put together which customs will be leading," she added.