The Rice Processors Association of Nigeria (RPAN) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to criminalise the sale of foreign rice in the country.

RPAN director-general, Andy Ekwelem, told reporters in Abuja Saturday that the recent reopening of Nigeria’s land borders had opened the floodgates to smuggling of foreign rice, which he lamented, had saturated the country’s markets.

Mr. Ekwelem cautioned that the development, if left unchecked, would lead to the collapse of all the rice mills in the country, resulting in massive job losses.

“We have said it many times on the need for government to criminalise sales of foreign rice in the markets and supermarkets,” the RPAN chief said. “Rice is number one on the list of prohibited products in which CBN placed forex restriction.”

He added: “It is assumed that any rice you see in this country now, in the markets, shops and even in your homes that is not Nigeria made rice, it is smuggled into the country.”

Mr. Ekwelem recommended periodic raids by law enforcement agents on markets and retail outlets selling foreign rice, stating that their action “amounts to economic sabotage.”

He disclosed that although the rice value chain sub-sector had engaged about 13 million Nigerians on direct employment, most of the mills in the country were currently working at half capacity due to limited off-takers for the products they produced for Nigerian markets.

But it was unclear whether the Buhari administration, although considered friendly to local rice growers, would accede to the association’s demand. Nigeria could also be handicapped as a signatory to several international trade entities, including the recently formed free trade agreement across Africa.