Hardship: Nigerians Storm Customs’ Office For Subsidised Rice

Nigerians, on Friday, besieged the South West zonal office of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Yaba, Lagos to purchase 25kg rice launched by the service to reduce the soaring price of food in the country.

LEADERSHIP reports that the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, on Thursday, flagged off the distribution of the seized food items to Nigerians at a discounted price of N10,000 per 25kg.

The CGC further said the distribution was part of the ongoing commitment to safeguarding the food security of Nigerians, stating that the service secured approval from the government to dispose of the seized food items to needy Nigerians.

“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. 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,” the CGC stated at the flag-off.

However, LEADERSHIP visits to the distribution points in Yaba, Lagos, saw many Nigerians trying frantically to purchase the food items.

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Speaking to LEADERSHIP, a Nigerian, Bunmi Omoyele, called for more distribution points across the state.

Omoyele, who applauded the management of the Nigeria Customs Service said the price is pocket friendly and would definitely bring down the soaring price of rice in the local market.

“This initiative by the management of the service is encouraging, it will bring down the price of rice as I believe there will be more supply than demand. But, the management should further decentralise the distribution points to reduce the crowd we are seeing at this point,” she stated.

Also speaking, Ibrahim Tahir, commended the federal government and the Customs service management but urged them to ensure that it gets only to the needy.

“This act is commendable and the process is seamless but the service should ensure that the food items get to only those truly in need. When it gets to them, the price will drop but if it falls in the wrong hands, they will only make more profit while the needy will continue to groan,” Tahir stated.