In its commitment to align with President Bola Tinubu-led administration plans to tackle the pressing issue of food, the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Bashir Adewale Adeniyi has kicked off the sales of 25kg of Rice at N10,000 Naira only to vulnerable Nigerian with valid National Identification Number.
According to Adeniyi, the sales initiative is to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians by ensuring the availability of essential food items. The process kicked off yesterday the 23rd of February 2024 at the NCS Zonal office at Yaba in Lagos.
The CGC Adeniyi emphasized that the distribution of rice will be at the target areas of customs operations, so as ensure direct access to beneficiaries most especially the poor masses.
The 25kg of rice was sold for as low as N10, 000 as against the prevailing price of N40,000 in the market. Scores of Nigerians trooped than to Customs office at Yaba yesterday, meanwhile the CGC has assured that the process will continue for as long as the items are available in all Customs target operations all over the nation.
Among the people that benefited from the process were the Physically Challenged persons, Nigerians commended the Federal Government and the Nigerian Customs for the initiative.
Some of the beneficiaries expressed their appreciation in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.
The exercise commenced at 8.00 a.m. with support of the security agencies including Nigerian Police, DSS, Nigerian Army, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) among others. The 25kg bag of rice was sold for N10,000 after providing the National Identification Number (NIN).
It was observed thant many less privileged Nigerians were beneficiaries of the Government relieved food items.
Some of the beneficiaries of the first day of the distribution exercise were, artisans, teachers, religious bodies, less privileges person, Sweepers from various areas in Lagos.
Their Comments:
Mr Taiwo Lawal, a physical challenged person, busted in tears why appreciating the Federal Government for considering them in the distributing of the food items.
“This have never happened in the history of Nigeria where majority of Nigerians will benefit from relief items genuinely without preference.
” If Government engage more of this gesture price of good will reduce for common people to afford,” Lawal said.
Another vulnerable, Mrs Amdalat Balogun, who lost her sight from birth, said she got the news from radio and quickly borrowed N10,000 from her neighbour to enable her benefits 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 government to improve more of the subsidised food to sustained the livelihood of the ordinary Nigerians.
The Chief Imam of Magodo Phase 2, Central Mosque, Imam Abdul-Semiu Kelani, thanked the government and prayed for successful regime of the present administration.
He said that the government gesture would go a long way to ease the poverty level on Nigerian during the hardship period in the country.
A cleric, Emmanuel Omoroke from St. Luis Catholic Church, who came on behalf of the indigent members explained the level of hungers in the country.
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 subsidies food items would go a long waybin reducing hunger in the country.
A Nonagenarian, Mrs Adeke Lateef, who came with her grand child prayed for government for relieving them from hunger and urged government to do more
There was crowd outside the gate of the customs premises where the distribution took place. Some elderly people were injured and customs treated them using First Aid.
Customs coordinated the crowd as many Nigerians around the area commended their generosity and orderliness.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, while addressing the pressure groups, religious leaders and other beneficiaries pleaded with them not to divert the foodstuffs to the market.
Adeniyi said that the federal government had mandated them to give to the less privileged people in the country.
He assured many Nigerians of benefiting from the Federal Government Food intervention adding that such gestures would be distributed in all customs commands in the country.
