Nigeria Customs Service Initiates Sale of Seized Food Items to Enhance Food Security

Joyce Mmereole Okoli

TheComptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adele Adeniyi, MFR, addressed the press today, highlighting its commitment to ensuring food security for Nigerians.

that starting tomorrow Friday the 22nd of February, the Nigeria Customs Service’s (NCS) will start the distribution of seized food items to ensuring food security for Nigerians.

The press conference held at Harvey road onike centered on the commencement of the sale of seized food items starting tomorrow Friday the 22nd of February 2024 in a bid to curb the situation of the country.

The CGC mentioned  that the foreign rice would be auctioned off to the most vulnerable citizens at N 10,000 per 25 kg of rice.

In response to economic challenges, including insecurity and exchange rate issues, the NCS emphasized the need to protect food security. Noting the significant outflow of food items to neighboring countries, the NCS identified over 20,000 bags of assorted grains, 2500 cartons, and 963 bags of dried fish, among other items, posing a threat to the nation’s productive capacity.

“In recent months, the government has been addressing the challenges faced within our economy, particularly the lagged effects of insecurity and the current exchange rate issues. These challenges have exacerbated concerns about food security, leading to a concerning trend where food items are moving out massively to neighbouring countries.

“Some of the items include: over 20,000 bags of assorted grains (Rice, beans, Maize, Guinea corn, millet, Soya beans

 2500 cartons and 963 bags of dried fish.  Others include, Dried pepper, tomatoes, cooking oil, Maggi, Macaroni, salt, sugar, garri.

“This trend is not sustainable as it puts pressure on our productive capacity and threatens our food security.  To address this, the NCS has remained responsive in carrying out its mandate to protect our borders from the inflow and outflow of restricted goods.

“One concerning trend noticed is the outflow of food items in huge quantities, posing a threat to our food security. It should be noted that the condition for the export of any item is only met upon fulfilling sufficiency internally. In this regard, food items deemed not to fulfil these conditions are showing up in our interceptions made at the borders” he stated .

To tackle this issue, the NCS obtained government approval to sell seized food items to needy Nigerians at discounted prices. Eligibility criteria include having a verifiable National Identification Number (NIN), targeting groups such as artisans, teachers, nurses, religious bodies, and others within operational areas.

“The intention is to reach out directly to members through these organized structures to ensure the maximum impact of this exercise.

“To ensure the security and integrity of this initiative, NCS has put in place comprehensive measures. These measures encompass robust security protocols throughout the process. Our officers will be closely monitoring the entire supply chain to prevent any misuse or diversion of the food items.

“We have established strict guidelines and eligibility criteria to ensure that the items are distributed only to those in genuine need. Additionally, we will be working closely with relevant agencies to ensure compliance with the terms of this program,” he said

To ensure the integrity of the initiative, the NCS has implemented comprehensive security measures, including monitoring the entire supply chain and collaborating with relevant agencies to ensure compliance. Strict guidelines and eligibility criteria have been established to prevent misuse, with a strong stance against resale or profiteering.

Comptroller-General Adeniyi emphasized that the NCS, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, remains dedicated to executing its duties with excellence, transparency, and accountability.

The organization is committed to fostering a culture of integrity and ethical conduct, contributing to sustainable development, competitiveness, and inclusive growth for the benefit of all Nigerians.

 The public is urged to report any misuse or unauthorized resale of seized food items, as the NCS is determined to take decisive action against violations.

 “We urge Nigerians to report any incidents of misuse or unauthorized resale of the seized food items. NCS is fully committed to transparency and accountability in this process, and we will not hesitate to take decisive action against any individuals or entities found to be in violation of the terms of this program,” he added.