Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Ibrahim Ramalan
Published on 2024-02-23 02:22:38
The Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, has initiated the distribution of seized food items to assist in alleviating the current hardship in the country. This effort is in response to a directive from the Federal Government to distribute the seized food items to needy Nigerians. The Comptroller-General of Customs, Wale Adeniyi, announced the commencement of the distribution at the flag-off of the exercise in Lagos.
Customs has collaborated with other agencies to ensure that the seized food items are distributed directly to those in need. Adeniyi emphasized the requirement for individuals to have a verifiable National Identification Number (NIN) to benefit from the distribution. The target recipients include artisans, teachers, religious organizations, and other individuals residing in areas within the customs operations, including border areas.
The intention behind the distribution is to reach out directly to members of organizations with established structures, ensuring the maximum impact of the exercise. In addition, robust security measures have been put in place to prevent any misuse or diversion of the food items. The goal is to reduce food prices in the country, and the Customs Service is working alongside sister agencies of the government to achieve this objective.
The distributed rice has been certified for consumption by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and re-bagged into 25 kg bags to reach as many Nigerians as possible. Customs has established 10 points for processing and individuals are required to present their NIN to prevent double benefitting. Additionally, customs will collaborate with the police to ensure that the food items are not resold and will take action against unauthorized resale.
Nigerians are urged to report any incidents of misuse or unauthorized resale of the food items, as customs will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute anyone found in possession of such items in their stores. Adeniyi disclosed that customs officers have intercepted over 20,000 bags of 50kg parboiled rice, beans, maize, millet, and suya beans. Furthermore, over 50 trucks containing the seized food items are currently detained by the area commands of the Customs. Other seized items include 2,500 cartons of 963 bags of assorted dried fish, dry pepper, seasoning, salt, cooking oil, macaroni, sugar, and garri.
The Nigerian Customs Service is jointly working with sister agencies to protect the borders from the inflow of smuggled goods and the outflow of restricted goods. This collaborative effort aims to safeguard the economic interests of the country and support those in need during these challenging times.
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