The Coordinating Minister for Nigeria Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has revealed that Nigeria is also experiencing back-drop in her non-oil revenue apart from the deteriorating crude oil revenues.

According to the Finance Minister, the amount of revenue generated by the Nigeria Customs Service has gone down as a result of some measures that were put in place by the Federal government.

She further commented that though the back-drop in non-oil revenue is anticipated in view of the high tariff barriers that were adopted by the country, the situation becomes very disturbing if there is no substitute for it.

Okonjo-Iweala noted that despite the high tariff on importation of rice, there are still lots of rice in the market, pointing that they must have been smuggled into the country.

Speaking on the drop in oil output, she stated that the oil receipt of FederalInland Revenue Service (FIRS) has also gone down as a result of the increasing oil theft, adding that it is a situation that has to be resolved.

She said however that the President has set up a task force that comprised governor of Delta as the chairperson, all the Niger-Delta governors as members, she, the Finance Minister, the Minister of petroleum resources, Minister of National planning, Armed Forces, and anybody connected with oil including oil companies, and are at present working towards restoring one or two key pipelines – Nembe Pipelines and Trans-Niger, adding that the pipelines  repair will be completed within a period of two weeks.