Customs Announces Commencement of ‘Duty-free’ Importation of Food Items

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has finally announced the full implementation of zero duty on essential food imports as earlier announced by the federal government.

The NCS is a statement  said that the “duty free” importation takes took effect from July 15, 2024 and will end on December 31, 2024.

The statement signed by the National Public Relations Officer of the service, Abdullahi Maiwada, stated that the basic food imports eligible for the duty-free import include husked brown rice, grain sorghum, millet, maize, wheat and beans.

Mr Maiwada stated that the move followed the directive by President Bola Tinubu to implement the zero per cent duty rate and Value Added Tax exemption on selected basic food items.

Giving detail on the importation process, the NCS statement reveals that “A company must be incorporated in Nigeria and have been operational for at least five years. It must have filed annual returns and financial statements and paid taxes and statutory payroll obligations for the past five years.

“Companies importing husked borrowed rice, grain sorghum or millet, need to own a milking plant with a capacity of at least 100 tons per day, operated for at least four years, and have enough farmland for cultivation. Those importing maize, wheat or beans must be agricultural companies with sufficient farmland or feedmill/agro-processing companies with an out-grower network for cultivation.’’

The NCS also said that at least 75 per cent of imported items must be sold through recognised commodities exchanges, with transactions and storage recorded, advising companies to keep “comprehensive records of all related activities, which the government can request for compliance verification.”