The Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) has directed that a restriction be placed on rice exit from the Free Trade Zones (FTZ) into the country as the Customs continues to deal with the issue of smuggling through the land borders.

 The Nigeria Custom Service spokesman, Mr. Joseph Attah revealed that the Customs had seized about 136,506 50kg bags of rice in the last one year.

“In the last one year, we have made a seizure of 250,825 bags with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over N1 billion on just rice alone. Again, in the last three months alone, the Compliance Team led by Assistant Comptroller of Customs, Musa Jalo, made a seizure of 921 bags,” he said.

The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) has also approved 32 the zones where imported items can be reproduced, repackaged and exported.

Information on NEPZA website reveals that while 14 of the zones are operational, 18 are under construction or yet to be fully developed.