DON’T RESELL: WHY IS CUSTOMS CHARGING RESIDENTS 10,000 FOR 25 KILOGRAM BAGS OF RICE?

Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), has started a rice disbursement scheme in Lagos.
At the launch of the rice distribution program in Lagos on Thursday, February 22, 2024, CGC Adeniyi observed that the Customs Department is committed to making sure that Nigerians have access to basic food supplies, which is in line with the government’s objectives to reduce food insecurity.
The CGC emphasized the value of accountability and openness in the distribution process and urged recipients to use the rice for domestic use only—never to be sold or hoarded.

Moreover, CGC Adeniyi disclosed that the Nigeria Customs Service received government authorization to sell food products confiscated to Nigerians in need at a reduced price, after a verification procedure that required the National Identity Number (NIN) to be presented.

He listed the initiative’s target audiences, which included religious organizations, educators, nurses, and other local residents living in customs-operated areas. The goal is to achieve maximum impact by reaching out to beneficiaries directly through organized mechanisms.

CGC Adeniyi, however, reaffirmed that the program’s main objective is to give those in need access to basic food supplies, reiterating the Customs’ dedication to social welfare duty initiatives.

The individual issued a warning on the distribution of rice and its resale value. They emphasized Customs’ strict policy of not tolerating any profiteering or abuse of the effort. CGC Adeniyi pleaded with Nigerians to report any cases of improper use or unlawful resale of the food goods that had been seized.