- A common sight at the Customs public display of seized smuggled items
By Anthony Nwachukwu
Desperate to mitigate the worsening shortage and soaring cost of essential food items in Nigeria, the Federal Government, through the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), is set to block the “unlawful exportation of vital food resources for individual economic gains.”
Similarly, the NCS will facilitate the direct disposal of forfeited smuggled foods that are certified fit for consumption to Nigerians “most in need” in its areas of operation across the country through its formations.
These moves conform with the commitment of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr. Bashir Adeniyi, to advancing the Federal Government’s food security agenda, according to a statement Tuesday by the National Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abdullahi Maiwada.
“In line with this vision, the service has launched a strategic anti-smuggling operation and public engagement in its commitment to prevent the unlawful exportation of vital food resources for individual economic gains,” the statement read.
“This urgent imperative fuels the need for a proactive stance to safeguard food availability within our nation and alleviate the detrimental effects of scarcity on citizens.”
It added: “To alleviate the hardships faced by Nigerians and improve access to essential food items, the Nigeria Customs Service will facilitate the direct disposal of food items forfeited to the Federal Government.
“These items will be certified fit for consumption by relevant agencies and made available to ordinary Nigerians nationwide through equitable distribution in our areas of operation.
“The modalities for the disposal will be communicated through NCS formations nationwide, with a firm commitment to transparency, fairness, and public safety.
“It is our pledge that this exercise will be managed diligently to ensure that the benefits reach those most in need.”
Given the steady display of truckloads of bags of seized foreign parboiled rice by the NCS formations, a judicious disposal of the staple, which import was totally banned by the former administration and remains banned till date, even without sufficient local production, might temporarily assuage the growing hunger among the masses.
Until now, the seized rice had been devoted to feeding the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at the camps. However, the entire stretch of the Nigerian masses today are becoming as helpless as those in the IDP camps with the worsening insecurity, while kidnappers and bandits continue killing farmers, destroying crops and grains, and taking everyone hostage for ransom, thereby forcing people out of their farms.
