FG delays zero-duty tax on imported food

• The Federal Government's plan to implement a zero-duty tax and VAT exemption on essential food items has been delayed 
• The zero-duty tax policy aimed to reduce food inflation by allowing duty-free importation of food items
• Bureaucratic delays and the Finance Ministry's failure to publish a list of approved importers have stalled the programme

The Federal Government’s plans to reduce the price of food commodities by implementing a zero per cent duty and exemption from value-added tax on selected basic food items are increasingly becoming difficult to achieve.

The challenge is underscored by an alarming increase in the average price of imported food items, which rose to 878.3 price point index in September 2024, reflecting broader economic pressures.

On July 8, 2024, the Federal Government announced a 150-day duty-free import window for food commodities to ensure a reduction in food inflation in Nigeria. The food commodities include maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas.

It said the programme was meant to help cushion the effects of various factors contributing to food scarcity and price hikes in the country.

The idea was to remove or significantly reduce import duties and value-added tax to encourage an inflow of food imports and drive down consumer prices.

However, the scheme failed to take off three months after the government announced the plans.

The government’s bureaucratic process and the failure of the Federal Ministry of Finance to publish a list of importers qualified to participate in the process as required by the guidelines earlier issued by the Customs in August were cited as reasons for the delay in the commencement of the scheme.

At a press briefing early this month, the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, said the government has ordered maize and wheat imports to stabilise the food market.

While the government has yet to begin implementing the policy, the price of imported food has continued to increase.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics monthly inflation report, the 878.3 price point index on imported food items in September was a rise of 30.6 price index or 3.61 per cent from 847.7 in August 2024.

Further analysis showed that the average price of imported food had surged by 72.3 percentage points or 8.97 per cent from the 806.0 average price index in July 2024 when the policy was announced and 878.3 in September.

On a year-to-date, this increase was a surge of 185.7 price index points or 26.81 growth from 692.6 in January 2024, indicating more reliance on foreign food products amidst food supply shortages in the country.

A month-by-month analysis showed that Nigeria recorded an imported inflation rate of 26.29 per cent in January. This increased to 29.81 per cent in February, marking a notable jump of 3.52 per cent in the inflation rate from January.

The trend continued in March, with the imported food inflation rate climbing to 32.89 per cent, an increase of 3.08 per cent from February.

In April, the inflation rate further increased to 34.01 per cent, growing by 1.12 per cent from March, showing a slight deceleration in the rate of increase.

May recorded an imported food inflation rate of 34.83 per cent, indicating a continued upward trend. The increase in the inflation rate is 0.82 per cent from April.

The figure was 806.0 in June, 826.2 in July, 847.7 in August and 878.3 in September.

Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Nigeria has released 547.7m (N823.19bn at the official exchange rate of N1,503.3/$1, as of June 30, 2024) to Nigerians for importing food items in the second quarter of 2024.

The amount is a reduction of $142.48m or 20.6 per cent from $689.88m recorded in the first quarter of 2024 and N80.76bn or 8.93 per cent from N903.95bn recorded in Q1 when converted to naira.

In six months, the CBN has released a total of N1.73tn.

An analysis showed that Nigerians spent $164.43m in January, $303.91m in February, and $221.54m in March.

The apex bank also allocated $153.27m In April, $197.21m in May and $197.22m in June.

5 years of operations, annual returns, taxes: Customs lists criteria for duty-free food importation

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said only companies incorporated in Nigeria. Operational for at least five years must have filed annual returns and financial statements and paid taxes and statutory payroll obligations for the past five years and are eligible to participate in the government's duty-free importation of food items policy. 

These guidelines were contained in a statement by the National Public Relations Officer of Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada, on Wednesday, August 14.