The National Harmonised Traders Union of Nigeria (NHTUN) has expressed mixed reactions over the Federal Government’s decision to grant tax holidays on the importation of food items like maize, wheat, and rice.
AgroNigeria gathered that while the union welcomes the move as a temporary relief from hunger and high prices, it cautions against harming the nation’s agricultural sector.
In a statement signed Wednesday by the union’s president, Dr Bature AbdulAziz, said the high prices of commodities and lack of money have made Nigerians desperate for relief, but the government must ensure that the measure does not perpetuate reliance on imports.
Even with tax holidays, he said, the prices of rice and wheat will remain prohibitive due to the scarcity of foreign exchange.
The union then urged the government to support local farmers through irrigation farming and provide necessary resources to make Nigerian agriculture more prosperous.
The government has announced a 150-day duty-free import window for essential food items, including maize, wheat, and rice, as part of its Presidential Accelerated Stabilization and Advancement Plan.
