By Steve Agbota, Lagos
Following the persisting economic austerity accentuated by a traumatising food crisis, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), last week, flung its gates open to auction seized food items at affordable prices to ameliorate the suffering of vulnerable Nigerians.
The Service announced that a 25kg of rice will cost N10,000 across the nation.
The initiative received wide applause because it sought to improve access to essential food items through the direct disposal of seized edible goods condemned by competent courts and certified fit for consumption by relevant regulatory agencies.
Consequently, a pilot exercise was conducted last Friday, at NCS old zonal headquarters, Yaba, Lagos State, where over 5,000 Nigerians benefitted.
Daily Sun learnt that the distribution exercise commenced at 8.00 am with the support of the security agencies including Nigerian Police, DSS, Nigerian Army, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), among others.
It was observed that many less privileged Nigerians were beneficiaries of the government relief food items as they got the 25kg bag of rice for free.
In fact, some of the beneficiaries of the first day of the distribution exercise were artisans, teachers, religious bodies, persons with disabilities, waste managers, sweepers from various areas in Lagos.
Beneficiaries extolled Customs for the initiative which brought succour to them as food prices reached dizzying heights in recent weeks.
Some stakeholders who spoke to Daily Sun said this was what the previous Customs administration under the former Comptroller General of, Hameed Ali, failed to do because, on his watch, millions of seized 50kg bags of rice were left to decompose at various Customs warehouses across the nation.
This led to a double whammy of huge revenue loss for the government through auctioning of the seized food items and also robbing the populace the chance to access cheaper food to cushion their suffering.
For the port community, the move to sell the seized goods was a clear testament that the current Customs management meant well for Nigerians, regardless of the unfortunate fatalities and injuries recorded as a result of stampede.
To avert further injuries, Customs has temporarily suspended the exercise in order to commiserate with the families of the deceased and also rejig the exercise.
In a statement by Customs National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada released on behalf of the Comptroller General, Wale Adeniyi, the Service said it would thoroughly investigate the stampede and tidy up loose ends.
“This should help us to properly articulate more robust and comprehensive action that will not defeat the noble intention. We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of all Nigerians as we work towards addressing the challenges facing our nation’s food security,” Maiwada said.
Explaining further, the PRO said the exercise was conducted following meticulous planning to address all potential risks that may emerge during the exercise.
“As part of our process and control measures, we had Nigeria Police and military personnel to ensure crowd control. We also fully equipped a medical team on ground in anticipation of potential risks during an exercise of that magnitude. Their presence was part of our proactive approach to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all participants.
“The disposal of the food items got off to a smooth start at about 0800hrs. We enjoyed the cooperation of the large crowd that obliged us, giving preferences to the elderly, people living with disabilities, pregnant
women, and other vulnerable Nigerians who showed up for the exercise. This was the case up until about 1700hrs, as attested to by the over 5,000 beneficiaries and members of the press.
“However, unforeseen challenges arose when we ran out of stock and announced the continuation of the exercise the following day, leading to a regrettable outcome. The crowd became desperate and charged
through our barricades in search of rice bags inside emptied containers. In the stampede that ensued, some fatalities and injuries were regrettably recorded,” he added.
However, he said the Nigeria Customs Service extends its heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives during the unfortunate incident.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the affected families during this challenging time, and we assure them of our unwavering support. We are working with Hospital Authorities to establish contact and engage
directly with the victims’ families on their next steps. Following this incident, an internal investigation was initiated to understand the circumstances surrounding this unfortunate event,” he said.
Meanwhile, some of the beneficiaries of the exercise who spoke with Daily Sun commended the Federal Government and the Nigeria Customs for helping them at a time it was most needed.
One for the beneficiaries, Mr Taiwo Lawal, a physically challenged person, burst into tears as he extolled the federal government for considering them in the distribution of the food items.
“This has never happened in the history of Nigeria where the majority of Nigerians will benefit from relief items genuinely without preference.
“If the government engages in more of this gesture, the price of goods will reduce for common people to afford,” Lawal said.
Another vulnerable Nigerian, Mrs Amdalat Balogun, who lost her sight from birth, said she got the news from the radio and quickly borrowed N10,000 from her neighbour to enable her to benefit from the rice. Balogun said she bought the rice because of Ramadan fasting and appreciated the initiator as well as the federal government.
She also pleaded with the government to provide more of the subsidised food to buoy ordinary Nigerians.
The Chief Imam of Magodo Phase 2 Central Mosque, Imam Abdul-Semiu Kelani, thanked the government and prayed for a successful regime of the current administration.
He said that the gesture would go a long way in easing the poverty level of Nigerians.
A cleric, Emmanuel Omoroke from St. Luis Catholic Church, who came on behalf of the members, explained that the frightening level of hunger in the country needed an interventionist approach like what Customs has done with the auctioned rice.
A sweeper, with the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mrs Morufat Bello, appreciated the government for the opportunity.
Mr Fatai Sulaimon, the Vice Chairman, Airport Branch of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), said that the food items sold at a much cheaper rate would go long way in reducing hunger in the country.
A Nonagenarian, Mrs Adeke Lateef, who came with her grand child prayed for the government to relieve them from hunger and urged the government to do more.
However, many Nigerians implored Customs management to look for a more conducive environment to resume the exercise as soon as possible.