Monopoly As Customs Secretly Approves Only 4 Companies to Import Maize into Nigeria
By DAPO OLAWUNI
The Nigeria Customs Service has approved four companies; Wacot Limited, Chi Farms Limited, Crown Flour Mills Limited and Premier Feed Mills Limited to be the only ones to import maize into Nigeria for the next three months.
The companies are to import cumulatively, 262,000 tons of maize.
In a circular titled “Importation of Corn and Maize into the Country ” signed by the Deputy Comptroller General Tariff and Trade, Mairo Talatu, a copy of which was obtained by DAILY TREND NEWS, the approval runs from August, September and October 2020.
Recall that in July 2020, the Federal Government had announced a ban on maize importation into Nigeria when it added it to list of ‘41 banned items’.
DCG Talatu in the circular signed for the Comptroller General of Customs, Col Hameed Ali said “I am directed to refer to the above subject matter. In line with government policy on food security, sufficiency and striking a balance between food security and local production capacity to meet anticipated shortfall, the Central Bank of Nigeria has granted approval to the underlisted companies to import maize in the quantities stated below:
“Wacot Limited 30,000 tons, Citi Bank
Wacot Limited 30,000 tons, Chi Farms Limited 60,000 tons, Titan Trust Bank,
Crown Flour Mills Limited 22,000 tons, Coronation Bank,
Premier Feed Mills Limited 120,000 tons, Zenith Bank.
“Note: Approval is strictly for the companies listed above and stemmed to the months of August, September and October alone. Given the clarification, all CACs are directed to note the above companies, approved companies, duration and jerque accordingly. Please be guided,”
Recall that the Central Bank of Nigeria had restricted maize imports, saying that the decision was taken as part of its yearly efforts to control import and encourage local production.
“As part of efforts by the Central Bank of Nigeria to increase local production, stimulate a rapid economic recovery, safeguard rural livelihoods and increase jobs, which were lost as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, authorised dealers are hereby directed to discontinue the processing of ‘Form M’ for the importation of maize/corn with immediate effect,” O.S Nnaji, CBN’s Director in charge of Trade and Exchange Department, said in a circular
