As Nigerians await the full rollout of the 150-day duty waiver on staple foods, tension has risen between licensed customs agents and the Rice Processors Association of Nigeria over the policy’s poor implementation.

While the customs agents argue that the policy’s delay is due to the government’s decision to restrict the initiative solely to rice millers, RPAN insists that allowing the importation of brown rice would create jobs and boost the N1tn invested in Nigeria’s rice processing industry.

In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH on Sunday in Lagos, agents expressed frustration, stating that opening the policy to non-miller importers could have led to better outcomes.

They highlighted that since the announcement in July, food prices have continued to rise, undermining the goal of making essential commodities more affordable.

The policy, introduced by the Federal Government on July 15, 2024, was designed to reduce food prices and address Nigeria’s escalating food security issues. However, with just weeks left before the deadline on December 31, 2024, the initiative has yet to benefit any importer or company.

The waiver was meant to cover key foodstuffs, including maize, husked brown rice, wheat, beans, and millet.

A seasoned licensed agent Mr Abayomi Duyile criticised the lack of price reduction, particularly in wheat, which has not impacted the cost of bread or other wheat-based products.

Duyile pointed out the flaw in limiting the duty waiver to rice millers, which, in his view, excludes direct traders and has caused the prices to keep rising. “Instead of reducing, prices are increasing every day.

The concession is meant only for rice millers, and that’s a major challenge,” Duyile said.

The National Protocol Officer of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, Amuni Rilwane, called the initiative another unfulfilled government promise. “If they are happy making revenue from imports, it’s hurting the economy. The promise has not been fulfilled,” he added.

The National Secretary of the Western Zone of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, Stanley Ezenga, echoed similar concerns, calling the policy a “broken promise,” noting that no shipments of brown rice had been cleared since the announcement.

On the other hand, the Director-General of RPAN, Andy Ekwelem, argued that allowing the importation of brown rice would generate jobs and support the N3tn invested in the rice production and processing sectors.

He criticised agents for prioritising personal profits over job creation and investment in the local economy.

“We need brown rice to complement local production and reduce rice prices for Nigerians. The agents only care about their gain, not the economy. RPAN has asked the government to allow brown rice imports to stabilize the market and reduce prices for consumers,” Ekwelem said.

Despite the ongoing policy delays, Ekwelem remains hopeful that the government will make the right decision.

“The government will decide what to do, and I am sure they will do the right thing,” he concluded.