The Nigeria Customs Service has announced its plans to commence the direct disposal of seized food items to Nigerians.
The National Public Relations Officer of the service, Abdullahi Maiwada, who disclosed this in a statement released on Tuesday, said that the move was in response to the challenges of food security and the soaring cost of essential food items in the country.
The items, Maiwada added, must be certified fit for consumption before they could be distributed to Nigerians.
His words: “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 would be certified fit for consumption by relevant agencies and made available to ordinary Nigerians nationwide through equitable distribution in our areas of operations.”
He then explained that the modalities for the disposal would be communicated through NCS formations nationwide, “with a firm commitment to transparency, fairness, and public safety.”
“We pledge that this exercise would be managed diligently to ensure that the benefits reach those most in need,” he said.
He added that 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.
“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”, he said.
In his own remarks, the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, reaffirmed the service’s commitment to improve President Bola Tinubu’s food security agenda.
The commitment, he said, was deeply rooted in the NCS’s core mandate of serving the best interests of the Nigerians, “thereby fostering economic stability and prosperity.”
“The NCS remains resolute in its dedication to safeguarding the nation’s food security and advancing the economic well-being of all Nigerians. With the unwavering support and cooperation of the public, we will surmount these challenges and pave the way for a more prosperous future for our beloved nation,” Adeniyi concluded.
