On Monday house of senator committee on custom as investigates rice smuggling into Nigeria 
The senate committee on custom Excise and tariff on monday commenced an investigation into rice
smuggling in to the country
with a public hearing in abuja
Opening the swssion with ''smuggling -A Threat to Nigeria Quest to self sufficiency in rice
production '' president of the senate senator bukola saraki decried the rising trend in smuggling
in the country
Saraki said that activities of smugglers were a theat to Nigeria's self sufficiency in rice production
and must be dealt with in the interest of citizens
He said that in spite of the present administration's effort to make food sufficiency a cardinal policy it was faced with rising level of smuggling at various border
He cautioned that if not nipped in the bud the situation would advernsely affect the growth of the local market and revenue generation among other
“A considerable amount of revenue to be collected by the Federal
Government is being lost in addition to other adverse impacts that the
smuggled items cause to local industry.
“Obviously, this act cannot be achieved without the cooperation and
connivance of corrupt officials, including those in the law enforcement
agencies.
“A World Bank report of 2016 states that an astonishing N1.45
trillion worth of assorted goods are smuggled into Nigeria through the
Benin Republic alone every year.
“Therefore, we must exploit all avenue and investigate corrupt
practices in various Ministries, Departments and Agencies of
government,’’ Saraki said.
He said that the Senate's intervention was informed by the need to finding a lasting solution to the problem.
The president of the senate said that sanitation of local rice
production in the country would, in line with Senate’s Legislative
Agenda, encourage diversification.
He urged the committee and other stakeholders at the hearing to make recommendations for prompt intervention.
The Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, said that reports
had revealed the huge harm being done to the economy by activities of
smugglers.
The lawmaker stressed that it was more frightening to note that the
annual turnover in the hands of smugglers was more than the country’s
annual budget.
Uzodinma urged the stakeholders to make useful submissions that would aid the committee in its investigation.
a
j
A
