By Sabiu Abdullahi
Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in a bid to bolster food security and ensure accessibility to essential food items across the nation, has inaugurated a nationwide sale of seized items, with a bag of rice being auctioned at the price of N10,000.
During a press briefing held yesterday in Lagos to inaugurate the sale of the food items, Comptroller-General of the NCS, Bashir Adeniyi, underscored the service’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding food security and facilitating the availability of crucial food commodities in the country.
Adeniyi highlighted that the NCS had obtained government approval to distribute confiscated food items to deserving Nigerians at discounted rates.
The targeted beneficiaries include artisans, teachers, nurses, religious bodies, and other members of the populace.
“In recent months, the government has been addressing the challenges confronting our economy, particularly the lingering effects of insecurity and prevailing exchange rate issues,” Adeniyi remarked.
He expressed concern over the surge in the outflow of food items to neighboring countries, attributing this trend to the exacerbation of food security concerns.
Adeniyi noted that such practices strain Nigeria’s productive capacity and jeopardize its food security.
The seized items up for sale comprise over 20,000 bags of assorted grains including rice, beans, maize, guinea corn, millet, and soya beans, alongside 2,500 cartons and 963 bags of dried fish.
Additionally, other items such as dried pepper, tomatoes, cooking oil, maggi, macaroni, salt, sugar, and garri are included in the sale.
Adeniyi reiterated the NCS’s commitment to overseeing the supply chain diligently to prevent any misuse or diversion of the food items.
He assured that stringent guidelines and eligibility criteria have been implemented to ensure that the items are allocated solely to individuals in genuine need.
The launch of this initiative signals the NCS’s proactive stance in addressing food security challenges and underscores its role in promoting the welfare of Nigerians amidst prevailing economic conditions.