By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The importation of some food items into Nigeria through the land and sea, including maize, wheat, cowpeas and husked brown rice, will no longer attract taxes, tariffs and duties, the federal government has declared.
This is part of the efforts of the Nigerian government to address the food crisis bedevilling the nation at the moment.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Abubakar Kyari, while announcing a 150-day duty-free import window for food commodities in Abuja on Monday, said, expressed optimism that this policy would yield a positive result.
He said, “Under this arrangement, imported food commodities will be subjected to a Recommended Retail Price (RRP).”
“I am glad to reiterate that the government’s position exemplifies standards that would not compromise the safety of the various food items for consumption,” he added.
The Minister noted that, “In addition to the importation by private sector, the federal government will import 250,000MT of wheat and 250,000MT of maize.”
“The imported food commodities in their semi-processed state will target supplies to the small-scale processors and millers across the country,” he stated.
Nigeria has witnessed a significant surge in the prices of food items in the last one year, particularly due to insecurity in the northern part of the country, where most food crops are grown.
Food inflation, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), has remained above 40 per cent due to the shortfall in food supply in the country.
Dipo Olowookere 
Adedapo Adesanya