By Emman Ovuakporie  & Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA—Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Akinwumi Adesina, said yesterday that the alleged rice import duty scam that was widely reported to be N21 billion was actually N36 billion, which needed to be paid into federal coffers.

Akinwunmi Adesina

The minister, who disclosed this at a public hearing of the Adhoc Committee on Rice Quota and Duty Payments on Rice Imports Quota and Duty Payments, however denied granting any waiver to a rice importing company, contrary to allegations that certain foreign rice investors enjoyed the minister’s relief in duty payment liabilities.

Adesina said he was the one that first raised the issue of monies owed the Federal Government by the importers, which is to the tune of N36 billion even though he was not in a position to receive the monies.

This is barely 24 hours after Olam Nigeria Limited, a leading rice investor in the country, told the House of Representatives that out of its N3 billion import liability debt, the Agriculture Minister had written to notify them of 50 percent relief.

However, Adesina, who appeared before the committee yesterday, said he had been transparent and that no company is above the law, adding that any company that owes the Federal Government any amount must pay.

He said: “I raised the issue that allocations were made to certain companies and they have to pay. At the time I issued the statement, I told the Customs that the amount owed the Federal Govern-ment was N36 billion. I do not know when the hunter has now become the hunted.”

However, former Attorney-General, Mike Anodoaka, who is a rice miller, said some companies are killing Nigeria by their antics.

Andoaka said the minister tried his best to promote the local rice producers initially, but “the problems started when the minister alleged that some companies are not paying their duties. These companies are behaving as if they own the country.”

Committee Chairman, Leo Ogor, said the committee was not drawing conclusion on the allegations until it had extended the principle of fair hearing to all actors in the matter.

He said Customs should not heed any interference from the political class in overlooking what is owed the Federal Government as part of the import duty.