The Nigeria Custom Service (NCS) began the sale of rice and distribution to residents of Lagos State at 10,000 naira for 25kg on Thursday.
The CGC disclosed in the post shared on the Service X handle that the NCS has secured approval from the government to dispose of all the seized food items to needy Nigerians at discounted prices after satisfying the verification process of presenting the National Identification Number (NIN).
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adeniyi, showed the service commitment to align with the Nigerian President-led administration’s ambition to tackle the continuous issue lingering on food insecurity and scarcity by ensuring the availability of essential food items to Nigerians.
Speaking during the flag-off of the rice disbursement programme in Lagos, CGC Adeniyi stressed that the distribution of rice would be targeted at the areas in which the customs service operates to ensure direct access to beneficiaries.
He stated: “The target groups include 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. “
Mr. Adeniyi reiterated the importance of transparency and accountability in the distribution process. Adding to that, the food item is meant for domestic consumption and not for sales or hoarding.
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However, he clearly stated that the main objective of this initiative is to provide essential food items to those in need, in line with the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to enhancing its social welfare responsibility programmes.
“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,” Adeniyi stressed.
