Food supply gets a major lift as Nigeria secures duty-free rice imports

BUSINESS DAY NG

Nigeria received a shipment of brown rice as it seeks to alleviate climbing food costs that are squeezing consumers.

A consignment of 32,000 tons — the first in a decade — has arrived in Lagos, according to logistics company DUCAT who facilitated the shipment. The grain from Thailand was shipped after the West African nation issued a tariff moratorium on wheat, corn, rice and other food crops last year, DUCAT added.

Despite the duty waiver, purchases have mostly remained limited for fear of hurting local producers.

“Nigeria has been working hard to find solutions to broaden and strengthen its food supply accessibility,” DUCAT Chief Executive Officer Adrian Beciri said in a statement…