To address hunger and counter the escalating prices of food items in the country, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) declared its intention on Tuesday to distribute forfeited food items to the Nigerian populace.

Nigeria Customs Service
Nigeria Customs Service

These confiscated contrabands, which include rice, groundnut oil, noodles, and other commodities, were seized by Customs officers and forfeited to the federal government by the court.

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The NCS, through its National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, announced in a press statement that this decision is a response to the current critical challenges posed by the rising costs of essential food items in the country.

Maiwada emphasized that the items will undergo certification for consumption by relevant agencies and will be distributed equitably in Customs’ Areas of Operations nationwide.

The Customs spokesperson assured that the disposal modalities will be communicated through NCS formations across the country, with a commitment to transparency, fairness, and public safety.

He highlighted the commitment of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s food security agenda.

Maiwada explained, “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 will be certified fit for consumption by relevant agencies and made available to ordinary Nigerians nationwide through equitable distribution in our Areas of Operations (AoO).”

He also reassured the public that the exercise will be managed diligently to ensure the benefits reach those in the greatest need, emphasizing the NCS’s commitment to safeguarding the nation’s food security and contributing to the economic well-being of all Nigerians.