Nigeria Customs Service Clarifies: Rice Remains Restricted Despite Forex Ban Lift

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has clarified that rice remains a restricted commodity despite the recent lifting of the ban on foreign exchange for its imports. The NCS spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, emphasized that rice, as a restricted item, would be confiscated if imported through land borders. The rising cost of rice, now selling between N55,000 and N60,000 for a 50kg bag, has prompted questions about the effectiveness of the forex ban lift. The NCS asserted that the forex ban lift did not change the status of rice as a restricted commodity, and any policy changes would be communicated to the public.