How Adesina contravened presidential order on rice importation

As the crisis surrounding the Minister for Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina deepens; fresh facts have emerged on how he allegedly contravened a presidential order by granting rice importation licences to unqualified businessmen and women.

An impeccable source in the Presidency told our correspondent that in May 2014, there was a presidential directive to give import licences to already existing rice millers in the country who were qualified and had the capacity to deliver following a meeting among ministers of Trade and Investment; National Planning; Finance and Agriculture to that effect. The import licence was to augment the shortfall in the local rice production capacity.
Consequently, a letter dated July 8, 2014 from the Office of the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy announced the directive to relevant government agencies and bodies which included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment; Budget Office Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria; Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS); Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; Nigerian Export Promotion Council; Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service and Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission.post by expdonaloaded.blogspot.com
However, from May last year when the order was given, nothing was done towards implementation until December, when Adesina allegedly gave licences to non-existing rice millers, an action that angered qualified rice millers in the country.
It was also revealed that the current spat between the minister and major rice millers was as a result of the breach of the presidential directive, as none of them was granted the import licence as directed by the Presidency.
In fact, the crisis got to its head when it was discovered that those who got the import licence began seeking the existing rice millers to sell the licences to them, as they lacked the capacity to undertake the task.
Among other things, it was also disclosed that there was no inter-ministerial committee formed as instructed by the President to deliberate on the issue as the quotas were issued unilaterally by Adesina at the minister’s discretion.
It equally alleged that the total quota allocation was not as per the supply gap of the rice required by the nation as major stakeholders were not involved and that the quotas were issued retrospectively which, as alleged, is against the legal framework of the nation.
When contacted to react to the allegations, Adesina’s aide, Dr Olukayode Oyeleye, said the minister was going to respond in details in due course, insisting that no comments could be made on the spot.