The
House of Representatives Thursday resolved to investigate companies
involved in rice importation under the federal government policy aimed
at encouraging investment in local rice production.
The
crux of the matter that precipitated the motion that led to the
resolution was the allegation that some companies in concert with some
foreign investors have imported the commodity in a manner that exceeded
“their approved quota and thus owe the federal government about N28,399
billion.”
The companies fingered are: Stallion Group, Popular Foods and Olam Nigeria Limited.
The House regretted that Stallion Group/ Popular Foods, with an unpaid
outstanding import duty of over N15 billion, has imported another 85,000
metric tonnes of rice into the country.
Hon. Simon Arabo (PDP,
Kaduna) expressed concern “that the actions of these companies are
capable of scuttling the nation’s self-sufficiency drive in rice
production and an act which deny the federal government the needed
revenue on import duties.”
Credit: Muhammad Bello/ThisDay
No comments:
Post a Comment