Import quota: FG moves against defaulters, seals four warehouses over N23bn debt

Cars at the Ports

Nigeria Customs Service has commenced the sealing up of warehouses of four defaulting Rice Importers.

“The action is intended to give a bite to several letters of warming and ultimatum to the beneficiaries of rice import quota policy who imported in excess of their approved quotas,” Joseph Attah, Deputy Public Relations Officer said in a statement on Tuesday.

The affected importers are: Olam, Stallion/Popular Foods/Masco Agro, Ebony Agro And Conti Agro (Milan)

The defaulting rice importers have refused to pay their total debt profile of N23,603,479,402.44 (Twenty Three Billion, Six Hundred and Three Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Nine Thousand, Four Hundred and Two Naira, Forty Four kobo.)

In addition to the sealing up of their warehouses, the importers and their sister or associated Companies have been blocked from the Customs NICIS system meaning they will not be able to make further declaration and or not be allowed to discharge.

“To ensure that every amount owed Federal Government is recovered, a full scale legal action will be instituted against them,” the statement added.

Nigeria Customs Service assured the Public that it is not averse to concessions that help to engineer economic growth but will not relent on its role of holding beneficiaries accountable to their obligations.

“For the avoidance of doubt, genuine importers are hereby advised not to exercise any fear as NCS action is only about enforcing payments that are legitimately due to the Federal Government of Nigeria”, he added.