The Rice Processors Association of Nigeria, RIPAN, has disapproved of the directive given by the Senate to the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, to return confiscated foreign rice seized back to their owners.
The Director-General of the Rice Processors Association of Nigeria (RIPAN), Dr Andy Ekwelem who spoke to newsmen in Abuja noted that the ugly development was a gradual reversal of the gains made so far in combating the scourge of rice smuggling into the country of which the Federal Government has committed so much resources.
The development is a sequel to the directive given by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions on Tuesday 4th of May 2020, where it asked the NCS to return the smuggled goods it impounded from rice traders’ shops in Ibadan, Oyo State to their owners.
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At the hearing, the Senate concluded that the Nigeria Custom Services erred by raiding the market in Ibadan and confiscated smuggled Rice packed in the various Shops.
Mr Ekwelem revealed that they were shocked and disappointed by the directive and wish to state unequivocally, that the instruction given to the NCS counteracts the resolve of both the Nigerian Government and Good people of this country to grow local capacity in the Rice sector in-order to be in control of the country’s food security.
According to him, the NCS has over the years borne the blames over smuggling of food items especially Rice, stressing that each time the menace rises, stakeholders fall over themselves blaming the Customs.
“This instruction is nothing but a tacit support to smuggling and it leaves much to be desired. It also to a very large extent paints a picture of insensitivity to the plight of the Nigerian investor”, they queried.
He noted that members RIPAN and indeed all actors in the entire Rice value Chain are patriotic individuals who heed to the invitation of the Federal Government of Nigeria for private sector investments in the Rice processing sector in particular and the Rice Value Chain in general.
