The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Mr. Wale Adeniyi, says for anyone to benefit from the distribution of food items seized from alleged smugglers, they must have a verifiable National Identification Number (NIN).
As directed by the President Bola Tinubu administration, the NCS commenced the distribution of seized food items to Nigerians on Thursday, to help mitigate the economic hardship.
Speaking at the flag-off of the exercise in Lagos on Thursday, Adeniyi, said that the Federal Government had ordered the distribution of the seized food items, adding that the NCS is working with relevant agencies to distribute the seized food items directly to needy Nigerians.
He, however, warned that intending beneficiaries would require verifiable National Identification Number (NIN) before they could partake in the largesse.
“Our target include artisans, teachers, religious organizations and other Nigerians within the area of Customs operations, including the border areas.
“The intention of this distribution is to reach out directly to members of organization’s that have structures, to ensure the maximum impact of the exercise.
“The effort of the distribution is to ensure robust security protocol throughout the process, as officers will closely monitor the entre supply chain to prevent any misuse or possible diversion of food items.
“We collaborate with other sister agencies of government, while Customs is the lead agency because the food items are with us.
“Among us here are the Police, DSS, and tomorrow (today, Friday) we are going to have full department of all the sister organizations for proper monitoring,” Adeniyi explained.
He added that the rice being distributed had been certified for consumption by the National Agency For Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) before it was re-bagged to 25kg so as to reach as many Nigerians as possible.
The Customs boss said that 10 points had been created for the distribution and that interested Nigerians should come with their NIN, to restrict people from benefiting twice.
He disclosed that the NCS had intercepted over 20,000 bags of 50kg parboiled rice, beans, maize, millet, etc.
The CG added that over 50 trucks containing the food items were currently detained by the area commands; and that other items seized include 2,500 cartons of garri, dried fish, sugar, dry pepper, salt, cooking oil, seasoning and noodles.
