The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, has announced that the distribution of seized food items will commence on Friday. Speaking to journalists in Lagos on Thursday, Adeniyi clarified that customs officials are prohibited from participating in the exercise. The food distribution will include 25kg bags of rice sold at the rate of N10,000.
Adeniyi outlined the target groups for the initiative, encompassing artisans, teachers, nurses, religious bodies, and other Nigerians within the Customs Service’s operational areas. Emphasizing the intention to reach out directly to members through organized structures, he stressed the exercise’s goal of maximum impact.
However, Adeniyi issued a stern warning against the resale of the distributed food items, emphasizing the NCS’s commitment to transparency and accountability. He stated that any incidents of misuse or unauthorized resale should be reported, and decisive action would be taken against violators.
Highlighting the NCS’s commitment to safeguarding society by ensuring the availability of essential food items, Adeniyi addressed the challenges faced within the economy. He expressed concerns about the massive outflow of items to neighboring countries, citing examples such as over 20,000 bags of assorted grains, 2,500 cartons, and 963 bags of dried fish, along with other essentials like dried pepper, tomatoes, cooking oil, macaroni, salt, sugar, and garri. Adeniyi emphasized the unsustainable nature of this trend, posing a threat to the country’s productive capacity and food security.
