Customs’ Comptroller General Warns 99% Of Rice Smuggled Into Nigeria Is Not Fit For Consumption

The Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Hameed Ali, says 99 percent of rice smuggled through the land borders into Nigeria is not fit for human consumption.

According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) speaking at a joint news conference on illegal rice importation to Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja, Ali said samples of some of the rice seizures made over a period were referred to NAFDAC to ascertain their condition, adding that the test reports certified that rice smuggled through the borders was unfit for human consumption.

”Importation of rice into the country is not banned but restricted on the point of entry to seaports only…

We have seen rice conveyed in open wooden canoes across our creeks and water ways with generous amount of dirty waters splashing on them.

We have seen some mixed with other grains bags to deceive customs; some are stuffed inside any available crevice and compartments of vehicles, including the engine area. The concealed rice is thereafter re-bagged half cooked and presented in our markets for sale as imported rice.

Bags of rice meant for Nigerians’ consumption (are) being conveyed in coffins inside make shift ambulance vehicles. Often time, importers in the borders have to wait for months for the green light from corrupt customs officials before they gamble their ways across the borders.

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Rice being a perishable product, lose valuable shelve life in non-conducive storage conditions. We have strong evidence linking some reputable importers to cases of re-bagging expired rice to prolong their shelve life,” he said.

Ali also said that those who promote economic subterfuge were seeking a re-introduction of quota system to import 1.5 million tonnes through the entry point, adding, “We will be waiting for them.”