Governors blame Jonathan for substandard rice in Nigeria

Governors blame Jonathan for substandard rice in Nigeria

- The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) expresses concern over the quality of rice being imported and consumed by Nigerians

- The 36 governors urge the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to bring the situation under control

- The governors frown at the situation where Nigerians snub locally-produced commodity in preference for foreign ones which are most of the time, stale, contaminated or even fake

The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has blamed the Jonathan administration for the huge consignment of substandard rice still finding its way into the Nigerian market.

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The governors on Thursday, June 1, expressed concern over the quality of rice being imported and consumed by Nigerians.

The Forum said the consignment of rice still finding its way into the market was imported into Nigeria since 2014.

It said at the time, the Jonathan administration issued a very liberal import licence regime to its election financiers who were able to bring a substantial quantity of rice into the country using a waiver from the presidency at the time, The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Governors blame Jonathan for substandard rice in Nigeria
The governors said some Nigerians were either falling sick or losing their lives to the consumption of this substandard rice

The governors in a statement issued by the head, media and public affairs of the NGF Abulrazaque Bello- Barkindo, urged the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to bring the situation under control.

The 36 governors stated some Nigerians were either falling sick or losing their lives to the consumption of this substandard rice.

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They also frowned at the situation where Nigerians snubbed locally-produced commodity in preference for foreign ones which were most of the time, stale, contaminated or even fake.

Meanwhile, the Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Thursday, May 26, said it has impounded 941 bags of foreign per boiled rice valued at about N6.8 million.

The Controller of the command, Sarkin Kebbi, said this at a news conference in Lagos.

”The impounded rice is valued at N6,830,719, a Duty valued N4, 781,503 and duty paid valued N11,612,322.

Legit.ng learnt that the controller, who displayed the commodity, said the feat was achieved through a renewed resolve of the officers to stamp out smuggling.

Kebbi said that on resumption of duty a month ago, he made known to the officers the mandate given to him from the customs headquarters.

In the Legit.ng video below, traders lament bitterly over prices of goods, as they accuse President Muhammadu Buhari's administration of turning things upside down.

Source: Legit.ng

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