Importers and Distributors Association of Nigeria (RIMIDAN) has
\nalleged high level corruption and under-declaration involving Nigerian
\nCustoms and importer at various borders across the country.<\/p>\n
In a letter entitled \u201cunder-declaration as the bane of new rice
\npolicy\u201d , signed by RIMIDAN National President, Tunji Owoeye, and sent
\nto the Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali,\u00a0 the association
\nalleged that\u00a0 rice import through the land borders is not structured
\nwhile proper procedures are not followed in making declaration and
\nclearance.<\/p>\n
\u201cSir, we want to bring to your notice our observations on the new rice
\npolicy. We gathered from reliable sources that massive
\nunder-declaration has now replaced outright smuggling in virtually all
\nour land borders,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cForm M is not original or may not be opened at all; PAAR is not
\nincluded in the documents; customs officials are issuing assessments
\nwithout form M; no NAFDAC numbers on the bags; rice dealers buy CFA
\nand other foreign currencies through illegal means.
\n.
\n\u201cThe least a bag of rice imported through the land border is expected
\nto cost is N 10,300. It was reported that, in major Nigerian rice
\nmarkets such as Daleko, Iddo, Alaba & Sango in Lagos, Bodija in
\nIbadan, Oyarugbulem\/Oba Oyemekun in Akure, Oja Obal new market in
\nBorin, Kuto in Abeokuta, Igbudu in Warri, new Benin in Benin and
\nMaraba, Wuse, & Garki in Abuja, bags of rice are unbelievably landing
\nfar below N10,300; an indication that massive under-declaration is going
\non at our land borders.<\/p>\n
According to RIMIDAN, the implication of the anomalies with regards to
\nrice importation through the land borders are grave on the health of
\nthe citizenry and the national economy.<\/p>\n
\u201cOther agencies of government such as NAFDAC, SON, NPA and Quarantine
\nServices are deprived of their statutory functions with very serious
\nimplications on the health of our people especially if there is food
\npoisoning\/contamination,\u201d the association.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Importers and Distributors Association of Nigeria (RIMIDAN) has alleged high level corruption and under-declaration involving Nigerian Customs and importer at various borders across the country. In a letter entitled \u201cunder-declaration…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":44097,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44096","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n