Take away import duties on meals gadgets, activist urges Tinubu

The Convener of Concerned Nigerians, Deji Adeyanju, has urged President Bola Tinubu to temporarily remove import duties on imported food items to cushion the hardship in the country.

The According reports that importers had in October 2023 urged the authorities and stakeholders to review the current import duty structure in the country as foreign exchange has led to its escalating costs.

The former acting President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Agents, Dr Kayode Farinto, who made the appeal, said the recent surge in import duty due to the volatile exchange rate would burden the average Nigerian consumer.

Farinto said, “The current exchange rate fluctuations have caused import duties to rise to unprecedented levels, making it increasingly difficult for importers to maintain competitive pricing while staying afloat in the market.

“We call upon the relevant authorities and stakeholders to urgently review the current import duty structure and devise comprehensive measures to address these challenges.

“It is crucial to strike a balance between generating revenue for the government and maintaining a favorable environment for importers to contribute positively to the Nigerian economy.”

But while commending the President for directing the Customs Service to return seized food items to their rightful owners, he urged Tinubu to temporarily remove import duties on imported food items

In a statement on Monday, Adeyanju said, “The directive to the Customs Service to return seized food items to their rightful owners demonstrates President Tinubu’s commitment to tackling hunger and food insecurity in the country.

“President Tinubu’s directive to the Customs Service reflects his responsiveness to the concerns and criticisms raised by the public. The prevailing insecurity caused by banditry and other criminal activities has significantly impacted the agricultural sector.

“Many farmers are unable to go to their farms due to the fear of attacks, resulting in reduced agricultural productivity and food scarcity. I urge the President to temporarily remove import duties on all imported food items. This measure will help alleviate the current challenges faced by Nigerians.”

The According reports that the country is battling severe hunger, as the prices of staples have increased by over 300 per cent.

The country is also witnessing the highest inflation in 28 years, with the food inflation rate in January hitting 35.41 per cent.

Nigeria’s annual inflation rate rose to 29.90 per cent in the same month from 28.92 per cent in December 2023, according to official figures from the National Bureau of Statistics.

For instance, a bag of long grain rice now sells for almost N80,000 as against N45,000, which it sold for in December 2023. A crate of eggs now sells for almost N5,000; in December, it sold for N2,700.

Several other food items have also seen an astronomical increase in prices owing to several market forces, chief of which is the free fall of the naira.