Hunger: Customs Makes U-turn; To Now Sell Seized Rice To Nigerians

Wale Adeniyi, the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, has explained the modalities for the sharing of seized goods to Nigerians.

The magazine reports that the NCS promised to distribute some impounded commodities to Nigerians as part of its collaborative effort with the federal government to reduce hunger in the country due to the hike in the price of goods and essential households’ commodities.

Not a few Nigerians were happy following the announcement, because of the relief they thought they would get from receiving the goods.

They are now disappointed after the customs boss said the goods would now be sold to Nigerians.

According to Adeniyi, the impounded good would now be auctioned at cheaper rates at designated Customs Area Commands across the country to some categories of Nigerians who need them.

The Customs boss said, “The target groups included artisans, teachers, nurses, religious bodies, and other Nigerians within our operational areas.

“The intention is to reach out directly to members through these organised structures to ensure the maximum impact of this exercise,” Adeniyi added.

“It is imperative that beneficiaries of this exercise understand that the items are not to be resold. We take a strong stance against any form of profiteering or exploitation of this initiative.

“We urge Nigerians to report any incidents of misuse or unauthorised resale of the seized food items,” he said.

“We will not hesitate to take decisive action against any individuals or entities found to be in violation of the terms of this program,” the customs asserted.

“We are here to shed light on the commitment of the NCS to protecting our society by ensuring the availability of essential food items. In recent months, the government has been addressing the challenges faced within our economy.”