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Customs plans to distribute rice, other seized food items to starving Nigerians

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), said yesterday, that it has concluded arrangements that will enable it dispose seized food items to Nigerians.

The measure, the Comptroller-Genetal of the service, Adewale Adeniyi said, is part of its commitment to advancing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s food security agenda, andmitigates the soaring costs of staple food items across the country.

In a press statement issued by its National Public Relations Officer (PRO), Abdullahi Maiwada, said that the modalities for the disposal of the hygienic food items would be communicated through Customs' formations nationwide, with a firm commitment to public health, transparency and fairness.

 According to the image maker, "in response to the critical challenges of food security and the soaring costs of essential food items in Nigeria, the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, reaffirms his commitment to advancing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s food security agenda."

This commitment, Maiwada said, "is deeply rooted in the NCS’s core mandate of serving the best interests of the Nigerian people, thereby fostering economic stability and prosperity.

In line with this vision, the service, he said, "has launched a strategic anti-smuggling operation and public engagement in its commitment to prevent the unlawful exportation of vital food resources for individual economic gains. This urgent imperative fuels the need for a proactive stance to safeguard food availability within our nation and alleviate the detrimental effects of scarcity on citizens.

To alleviate the hardships faced by Nigerians and improve access to essential food items, the Nigeria Customs Service, Maiwada said, "will facilitate the direct disposal of food items forfeited to the Federal Government.

 These items will be certified fit for consumption by relevant agencies and made available to ordinary Nigerians nationwide through equitable distribution in our areas of operations."

The modalities for the disposal, the image maker said, "will be communicated through NCS formations nationwide, with a firm commitment to transparency, fairness, and public safety. It is our pledge that this exercise will be managed diligently to ensure that the benefits reach those most in need.

 The service, he said, remains resolute in its dedication to safeguarding the nation’s food security and advancing the economic well-being of all Nigerians.

With the unwavering support and cooperation of the public, Maiwada said: "We will surmount these challenges and pave the way for a more prosperous future for our beloved nation."