The decision of the senate chamber to suspend the idea initiated by the Nigeria Custom Service (NCS) is a sign of responsiveness to people’ yearning towards rice development in Nigeria. Although this has generated a lot of arguments and counter arguments just as many observers have expressed their contradiction against the world trade agreement which logically may not be logical in the case of Nigeria based on her economic challenges and the need to develop our agricultural sector with backward integration policy that will encourage local production thereby creating jobs and encouraging farmers.
It’s always
more rational for every nation as a matter of must to protect her interest by
proactive economic policies which the lifting of the ban on rice is one of them
that must not be encouraged as we
support and commend the position of the Senate Chambers being presided over by
the Senator Bukola Sakari on this issue so as to give robust development to
rice production using backward integrations approach that is already embarked
upon through the 2014 policy on the produce.
The reason
behind NCS pushing for the lifting of ban on the rice passing through the land
borders is something of great concern despite its incapability occasioned by
man power inspite a proactive rice policy of 2014 which was adjudged as a good
tool to drive self sufficiency in the year 2017 if the document predictions had
been followed to letter by those that are supposedly meant to ensure
implementation of the policy towards tax and duty evaders by all means.
It is very
unfortunate to our minds for NCS to bring up this kind of issue to public
domain when it is obvious that its mandate is to implement policy emanating
from the government cum the recent non performance in term of ensuring payment
from those companies who over imported beyond the limit of rice waiver given to
them.
In the face
of dwindling revenue generation due to falling price of oil, it would not be
out of place for government to ensure all her leaking holes be tidied up
towards ensuring proper accountability through measurable scientific tool
rather than any alternative which may not be a guaranteed measurement as there are
many porous land border roads without enough and even honest manpower at these
duty post.
It is quite
interesting to note that rice generates 50% of the total revenue of NCS annually
and this has been the bone of contention why proper mechanism of monitoring the
duty and levy on the produce must be made more transparent as rightly advocated
by the Senate committee set up to look into rice import duties and waivers
queried why the demand for the lifting of the ban on produce passing through
road borders thereby by-passing the seaport where proper documentation will be
carried out.
After
arguments at the senate chambers, the request from those who support and
against goes in favour of those that wanted the suspension of the lifting of
the ban on rice as proposed by the NSC
so as to enable the development of our agriculture and economic empowerment.
This decision is a very good pointer to the sensitivity of our distinguished
senators to backward integration of agricultural policy of developing this
local produce which must be extended to other produce like sugar.
We want to
suggest that more decisive steps must be taken as regard political will to
supporting the development of the sector in terms of checkmating policy summersault
that has been the bane of the failing of the sector that cut across production,
processing and marketing at the value of all the agricultural produce with
principle of comparative advantages being operational at all the tiers of
governments in the country.
Thank you for the excellent information and facts !!!
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