How Import Waivers Are Crippling Local Rice Mills - Agriculture - Nigeria

The Nigerian federal government’s import duty waiver on rice, maize, and sorghum, intended to lower food prices and mitigate the food crisis, is adversely affecting local rice millers by making imported goods more competitive.
Local millers report business closures and job losses, citing cheaper foreign rice imports, including potentially low-quality stock from India, as undermining Nigeria’s rice value chain.
The Nigeria Customs Service confirmed the waiver contributed to a 12-18% drop in food prices but millers call for government intervention to support local production.
Public debate reveals divided opinions, with many blaming local farmers’ greed for inflated prices during import restrictions and supporting continued import waivers for affordable rice.