The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed that the federal government’s prohibition on rice importation via land borders remains firmly in place.

This clarification was made amid recent announcements concerning new fiscal measures aimed at food imports, specifically paddy rice.

Speaking during an inspection at the Apapa port in Lagos, Comptroller-General of NCS, Adewale Adeniyi, stressed that while the fiscal policies have been updated, they primarily focus on brown rice and paddy rice, allowing them to be imported duty-free.

However, these changes do not affect the existing ban on rice being brought into the country through land borders.

Adeniyi emphasized, “The new fiscal measures do not permit rice to be brought in through land borders. The only modification is that brown rice or rice paddy will now be allowed duty-free.”

He further explained that rice imported in smaller quantities via the seaports, especially by those with access to foreign exchange, does not fall under the Customs Service’s import prohibition.

Periodic inspections reveal rice being imported at the port, typically in smaller packages.

These imports, according to the Comptroller-General, are not covered by the prohibition act and are allowed under the new fiscal guidelines.

The NCS remains committed to enforcing this policy across all land borders, maintaining Nigeria’s push towards local production and food security.