The Nigerian government has implemented a new import policy aimed at enhancing food security and supporting local agriculture. Announced by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the policy outlines strict requirements for companies importing key basic food items, including husked brown rice, grain sorghum, millet, maize, wheat, and beans.
Under the new guidelines, companies importing husked brown rice, grain sorghum, or millet must operate a milling plant with a daily capacity of at least 100 tons. This plant must have been in operation for a minimum of four years, and the company must own sufficient farmland for cultivation.
For maize, wheat, and beans, the policy requires importers to be agricultural companies with adequate farmland or feed mills/agro-processing firms with an out-grower network.
The Federal Ministry of Finance will periodically supply the NCS with lists of approved importers and their quotas to manage the importation of these items effectively. The policy mandates that at least 75% of imported items be sold through recognized commodities exchanges, with comprehensive transaction and storage records maintained. Companies must keep detailed records of all activities, which may be subject to government audits to ensure compliance.
Non-compliance with the import authorization requirements will result in the loss of all waivers, with companies liable for VAT, levies, and import duties. This penalty also extends to companies that export the imported items, whether in their original or processed forms, outside Nigeria.
In support of the new policy, Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi has pledged the Customs Service’s commitment to facilitating the importation process in line with President Tinubu’s food security initiative. Adeniyi made this pledge during the launch of the book Impactful Public Relations in Customs Management on August 13, 2024, at the NCS Headquarters in Abuja.
The book launch was held in conjunction with the 2nd Economic Confidential Annual Lecture, where Adeniyi emphasized the Customs Service’s dedication to addressing food security challenges through effective measures and promoting agricultural production.
He assured that the new policy is designed to streamline import processes, reduce costs, and lower consumer prices, aligning with broader goals of food security and agricultural development in Nigeria.