The Trans Border Traders Association of Nigeria (TBTAN) based in Lagos has concluded plans to seek the help of the Senate and House of Representatives over a ban on the importation of rice into the country through the land borders since when Mr. Olusegun Aganga became Minister of Finance.
According to TBTAN, “before the ban, a group had made several overtures to government against those of us engaged in the business of rice importation on smaller scale through the borders. Our investigations revealed that all the allegations against our involvement in the business was to create a monopoly for the group and cause Nigerians to pay more for the commodity that is always in demand by a large number of people.
“This group, with no known address and identifiable leadership, has demonstrated an intent to shut smaller importers out of the rice business with the objectives of increasing prices at will, determining the quantity in the market to create scarcity and cause Nigerians to have little or no choice than to bow to their cartel pricing mechanism.”
TBTAN, in a statement by its National Coordinator Mr. Mikky Okunola, noted that when its members “were involved in the importation (also paying appropriate duties to government through the Nigeria Customs Service) rice was sold between N6300 and N6700 per 50kg bag, today with the group’s monopoly, the product is priced above N7000 and will be more expensive as various festivities approach.
“We are aware that the House of Representatives is looking into a Customs contract allegedly awarded to a firm under the former finance minister and we pray that the Senate and the House which we view as our true representatives will intervene to stop this tide of monopoly aimed at enriching a very few persons at the expense of the vast majority of Nigerians”.
TBTAN said its members “were compelled to call for legislative attention and redress as all our correspondences to get clarification on the ban of rice through the borders were not responded to. As things stand, all we hear is that there is an order from above stopping the importation of rice through the land borders, no written circular to that effect or an amendment to government fiscal policy or import prohibition list containing the change in government policy.”
The group urged the National Assembly to cause the Ministry of Finance to officially communicate Nigerian business community at the borders and the Customs Service on the status of rice importation (since everything about the ban is in the secret except its enforcement against small non influential business men).”
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