ABUJA, FCT — Traders in some markets in Abuja on Saturday were out of stock of foreign rice in their shops and warehouses weeks after the reopening of borders by the Federal Government.
Hajiya Rahmatu Mohammed, a rice seller in Utako Market in Abuja, said in view of the scarcity, the price of foreign rice had increased in the market.
Mohammed said that the scarcity started in the last two weeks.
“In January and February, we have the foreign rice available all over the place in this market, that time we were buying N25,00 and selling at N26,000 but in the last two weeks, it has gone up to N27,000 and N28,000, yet we are not seeing it.
“It is surprising that even our suppliers are now complaining that they are not getting the foreign rice though I don’t know where they are bringing them from.”
She said the Nigerian rice was still cheaper as it was now sold between N21,000 and N23, 000.
Malam Adamu Saleh told newsmen in Gwagwalada market that he was out of stock of foreign rice, saying that the only two bags he has in the store were for a specific customer.
Saleh said he had ordered for the supply of foreign rice for more than a week and was hopeful of getting it next week.
“I never experienced this delay for the receipt of his order and however expressed worry that it might come with price increment”, he lamented.
Peter Innocent told newsmen that the recent increment on foreign rice had discouraged him as he now sells only Nigerian rice.
“The demand for local rice had increased over time except for few people who insisted on buying foreign rice”, Innocent said.
Another Rice distributor in Dutse, Jigawa, Alhaji Danjummai told NAN in a telephone interview that he was out of stock of imported rice.
Danjummai attributed the scarcity to the shortage in the market due to the lack of supply by marketers.
Reacting to the development, the Public Relations Officer of Nigeria Customs Service, Joseph Attah, said the scarcity of foreign rice in the market was a sign of the success of the service’s anti-smuggling operation.
Attah said the present customs under the leadership of retired Col Hameed Ali had maintained zero tolerance for the smuggling of rice and other prohibited items.
“Customs is committed to ensuring that Federal Government’s investment in agriculture will not be a waste because the present administration has done so much on rice production.
“It is our duty to enforce a fiscal policy of the government and that is why we are working vehemently to prevent smuggling of rice and other prohibited items”.
He added that the development showed that the recent directive given by Comptroller-General of Customs to officers and men to get rid of foreign rice in the market was working.
According to him, Ali has directed them to ensure that rice smugglers and indeed those who deal on smuggled rice do not have respite.
It will also be recalled that on Jan. 31, the Rice Processors Association of Nigeria (RPAN) decried the flooding of the country’s markets with foreign rice and appealed to the Federal Government to criminalize the sales of foreign rice.
The Director-General of the association, Andy Ekwelem, at a briefing in Abuja said the influx of smuggled rice in the market was worrisome.
He stated that rice value chain sub-sector had engaged about 13 million Nigerians on direct employment, adding that the activities of smugglers must be checked to avert job loss.
“If the government did not take decisive action, all the rice mills in the country would collapse.
“We have said it many times on the need for government to criminalise sales of foreign rice in the markets and supermarkets. Rice is number one on the list of prohibited products in which CBN places forex restriction.
“It is assumed that any rice you see in this country now, in the markets, shops and even in your homes is not Nigerian-made rice, it is smuggled.
“The country is losing revenue because these smugglers are not paying the right duties to bring the rice into the country and this ugly development is killing our economy.
“We want a law that will empower law enforcement agencies to go to markets and shops to arrest anyone found with foreign rice because their action amounts to economic sabotage.
“When that is done, people will be discouraged from buying from these people that smuggled rice into the country. We need to take drastic measures against smugglers as well as those selling the products,” Ekwelem added.
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