Rice growers hail ban on importation

Local rice growers, under the aegis of Patriotic Rice Association, PRAN, have hailed the decision of the Federal Government to ban the importation of rice through land borders, saying it will curtail losses to Customs estimated at more than N27 billion.
In a statement by Alhaji Habibu Maishin-kafa and Martins Okereke, PRAN said that nothing short of the closure of the boarders against smugglers would save the budding rice industry in the country.
The group affirmed that the latest move by the Federal Government would stop the activities of smugglers who push large volumes of rice into Nigeria with zero duty, thereby unsettling government’s efforts at making Nigeria self-sufficient in rice production by 2015.
They maintained that large-scale investments made in the farming and milling industries by private businesses were also in jeopardy, following Customs’ inability to protect the industry from the vagaries of smugglers.
PRAN said the banning should be supported by all Customs officials and by all Nigerians, noting that it was a patriotic measure.