The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has commenced the sale of seized food items to vulnerable Nigerians, as part of efforts to address hardship in the country.

The Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, made this known while speaking before the members of the House of Representatives in Abuja on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.

Adeniyi told the lawmakers that President Bola Tinubu has directed that food items produced in Nigeria and seized at the Nigerian land borders be sold directly to vulnerable Nigerians to address hunger in the country.

The Customs boss, who disclosed that the Service has commenced the sale of the seized food items in Lagos, said: “Mr President has directed that we sell directly to needy Nigerians food items produced locally but which were seized. This is one of the ways to address hunger and food scarcity we are facing. We have started this in Lagos.

Customs suspends rice distribution in Lagos over stampede

“Mr President also directed that imported food items seized by Customs should be sold back to the local markets for resale to Nigerians.”

The NCS had suspended its food disposal initiative following a stampede that claimed seven lives in the Yaba area of Lagos State.

The incident occurred during the distribution of 25kg bags of rice at Customs zonal headquarters in Yaba on February 23.

Customs said the suspension was part of the service’s resolve to ensure the safety of Nigerians and to enable it to properly articulate its next line of action, in order not to defeat the vision of the initiative.

The Star