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Traders union welcomes rice, maize import window with mixed feelings
The National Harmonized Traders Union of Nigeria has expressed mixed feelings about the Federal Government’s move to give tax holidays on the import of rice, maize, brown rice, cowpeas and other food items.
The group said the action could be good since it is a temporary measure to cushion the effects of hunger in the land.
Speaking in a release he personally signed and issued to newsmen in Kano, the President of the Union, Bature AbdulAziz, reminded the government that with the problems of forex, even with the import duty-free window measures taken, the prices of rice and other commodities will still be high for the common man in Nigeria.
He said, “For example, if one is importing rice from wherever, the dollar rate does not change. After the importation, a bag of rice will arrive in Nigeria at the rate of over N60,000, and it will still reach the last person at the rate of N70,000, so the change in the whole thing would be minimal.
“Yes, the price of commodities is unstable in Nigeria today, coupled with the lack of money among the public. This is enough to welcome any move to give citizens some relief, but this should not be a permanent position of the government,” AbdulAziz remarked.
DAILY POST reports that the Federal Government had announced the suspension of duties, tariffs, and taxes on some essential food items imported through land and sea borders.
Kyari disclosed that the listed food items, which include maize, wheat, husked brown rice and cowpeas, will enjoy a 150-day duty-free import window.
Reacting, the Chairman of Traders commended President Tinubu for his unflinching concern for the well-being of Nigerian citizens, but he insisted that the government should, in the context of the duty-free import window, try not to harm the nation’s farming community.
He said that farmers in Nigeria are also trying their very best, but the problem is that farming implements are not coming to them as needed. “You can see that the rainy season is on, but yet nobody has given farmers anything as tools they need to carry out their activities.
“What the government should do to ensure that Nigerian agriculture prospers is to ensure that everything farmers need is provided to them when due. If the authorities do this, certainly the nation will not need any imported food items.”
“If the government prioritizes the importation of paddy rice, I’m assuring you that many people will be gainfully employed because it will still need to be processed and its price will be as low as anything,” AbdulAziz added.
CREDIT: DAILY POST
Dangote Refinery has announced that it will need to export 95-97 percent of its Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) due to low interest from Nigerian marketers. The refinery, which processes 650,000 barrels per day, revealed that only 3 to 5 percent of petrol marketers are purchasing its fuel.
Devakumar Edwin, Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, shared these details during an X Space session hosted by Nairametrics on Wednesday. He highlighted the challenges facing both the Dangote Refinery and Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Edwin explained, “I’m selling 2 to 3 percent to small traders who are willing to buy, while the remaining 95 to 97 percent has to be exported,” referring to the local sales of the refinery’s products.
This situation arises as the NNPCL’s deadline for adjusting the Dangote Refinery’s fuel distribution approaches without a clear plan in sight. It is worth noting that while Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, has announced the refinery’s initial petrol rollout, its distribution to marketers is contingent upon NNPCL’s decisions.
The final sixteen teams for the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia have been determined following the conclusion of the group stage.
In recent matches, Ghana triumphed over New Zealand with a score of 3-1, and Japan secured a 2-0 victory against Austria.
As a result, Japan has advanced to the Round of 16, joining the other 15 teams in this knockout stage.
The Round of 16 matches are scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
The full lineup for the Round of 16 is as follows:
- Spain vs Canada
- Brazil vs Cameroon
- Colombia vs South Korea
- Mexico vs USA
- North Korea vs Austria
- Germany vs Argentina
- Netherlands vs France
- Japan vs Nigeria
The Nigerian Army has refuted claims of widespread resignations among its soldiers due to issues like corruption and low morale.
In a statement, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, dismissed these reports as unfounded.
A news outlet had alleged that numerous Nigerian soldiers were resigning because of corruption and low morale. However, the statement condemned these allegations as misleading and a deliberate attempt to create discontent and undermine the Nigerian Army’s reputation and the dedication of its personnel.
Major General Nwachukwu clarified that, similar to other military organizations worldwide, service in the Nigerian Army is voluntary rather than mandatory. This means that personnel have the freedom to resign following established procedures.
He explained that the resignation process allows personnel to prepare and manage their entitlements, including pensions and gratuities, as outlined in the Harmonized Terms and Conditions of Service (Officers/Soldiers).
Contrary to the report’s implications, the statement emphasized that Nigerian Army personnel are highly motivated, and their welfare is a priority under the leadership of Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja.
We’ll be forced to export 97% of our petrol – Dangote Refinery warns
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