Nigeria Customs Unveils Strategic Reforms to Tackle Food Insecurity, Increase Trade
Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi (MFR) has laid out a comprehensive strategy to streamline customs processes aimed at facilitating efficient food trade across the country.
Speaking at the Nigeria Customs Service Conference Hall in Abuja, Adeniyi emphasised the critical role of customs in addressing the nation’s escalating food prices and outlined a series of reforms designed to expedite the importation of essential food items while ensuring regulatory compliance.
In his keynote address, delivered during the high-profile event attended by government officials, industry stakeholders, and members of the media, Adeniyi highlighted the urgency of enhancing Nigeria’s food trade mechanisms in light of recent economic pressures.
“We just witnessed the end of a 10-day protest by citizens dissatisfied with the current state of the economy, particularly the soaring prices of food items,” Adeniyi stated.
He referenced the Nigerian government’s commitment to addressing these concerns, including the recent directives from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu aimed at bolstering food production and making food more accessible to Nigerians.
Adeniyi’s address provided a detailed overview of Nigeria’s vast agricultural potential, noting that the country possesses 84 million hectares of arable land, only 40 percent of which is currently under cultivation.
He emphasised that this presents a tremendous opportunity for expansion and greater food self-sufficiency.
Additionally, Nigeria’s diverse ecological zones support a wide variety of crops, making it the largest producer of cassava, yam, and cowpea globally, and a significant producer of cocoa.
Despite these advantages, Adeniyi acknowledged the challenges facing Nigeria’s agricultural sector, particularly the rising food import bill.
He noted that in the first quarter of 2024 alone, Nigeria imported N920.54 billion worth of food items, a staggering 95.28 percent increase from the same period in 2023.
“These figures underscore the need for concerted efforts to achieve food security and stabilise domestic prices,” he said, adding that the Nigeria Customs Service is pivotal in facilitating efficient food trade to reduce costs and support the government’s national food security initiatives.
Adeniyi outlined the government’s ongoing and planned initiatives to address food security, including the cultivation of over 10 million hectares of land, collaboration with state governors to accelerate food production, and the importation of mechanised farming equipment.
He also highlighted the recent removal of tariffs and import duties on key staples such as rice, wheat, maize, and sorghum, a move expected to drive down food prices over the next six months.
The implications of these policies for the Nigeria Customs Service were a key focus of Adeniyi’s address. He noted that the tariff suspensions, while essential for making food more affordable, would result in significant revenue forfeiture – estimated at N188.37 billion over the six-month period.
However, Adeniyi assured that the NCS is prepared to adapt, implementing operational adjustments to manage the expected surge in food imports while maintaining the integrity of the customs processes.
To this end, the NCS is introducing several measures, including the creation of a special corridor to expedite the clearance of food items, pre-release of perishable goods to maintain quality, and enhanced anti-smuggling operations to protect government revenue and the food supply chain.
The Service is also leveraging technology through real-time monitoring systems and data analytics to ensure that these initiatives are effectively implemented and that any potential issues are swiftly addressed.
Adeniyi also reported early successes from these initiatives, including a notable decrease in food prices, with a bag of rice now selling for N40,000 – a substantial reduction from previous prices.
Additionally, the NCS has been recognised as the most improved government agency in the recent Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) ranking, a testament to its ongoing efforts to streamline processes and enhance efficiency.
In his closing remarks, Adeniyi reiterated the NCS’s commitment to supporting the government’s food security initiatives, stating, “Food security is not just an agricultural issue, but a national priority that requires coordinated efforts across all sectors.”
He called on all stakeholders to work together in ensuring that the benefits of these policies reach the Nigerian people, ultimately contributing to a more stable and prosperous nation.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with the challenges of food security, the reforms outlined by NCS signal a proactive and strategic approach towards supporting the country’s broader economic goals and improving the well-being of its citizens.
