The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has began the sale of rice and other food commodities at discounted rates to the general public in Lagos and other regions of the country starting today, Friday, February 23, 2024.
This was seen on a viral video on the social media platforms on Friday afternoon.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued earlier by NCS Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi, the Customs stated that necessary approvals have been gotten from the government before the commencement of the exercise.
According to the statement, sales will be conducted at the Service’s Zone ‘A’ Headquarters on Harvey Road in Yaba. With vulnerable Nigerians set to buy a 25kg bag for N10,000
He said: “The trend of essential food items being smuggled out of the country is alarming and poses a severe threat to our food security. We have secured approval from the government to dispose of seized food items, primarily rice, at a subsidized rate of N10,000 per bag to eligible Nigerians.
“Some of the items to be sold include 20,000 bags of assorted grains (Rice, beans, Maize, Guinea corn, millet, soybeans; 2,500 cartons and 963 bags of dried fish; dried pepper, tomatoes, cooking oil, Maggi, Macaroni, salt, sugar, and garri.”
Stating that prospective beneficiaries must possess a genuine National Identity Number (NIN), he added that the campaign’s target categories include Nigerians living in the operational regions who are Craftsmen, Teachers, Nurses, and religious organizations.
Revealing that NCS had put in place comprehensive measures to boost security protocols throughout the process, Adeniyi asserted that the intention of the exercise was to reach out directly to the public through these organized structures, ensuring the maximum impact of this exercise was achieved, as well as the security and integrity of the initiative.
“Our officers will be closely monitoring the entire supply chain to prevent any misuse or diversion of the food items.
Furthermore, he stated that to guarantee adherence to the conditions of this program, the service will collaborate with pertinent authorities.
The CGC also issued a strong warning against reselling the things and stated that the service had adopted an anti-profiteering and anti-initiative position.
“We urge Nigerians to report any incidents of misuse or unauthorized resale of the seized food items. NCS is fully committed to transparency and accountability in this process, and we will not hesitate to take decisive action against any individuals or entities found to violate the terms of this program.
