By Ken Afor
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the temporary suspension of its food disposal initiative following the tragic death of seven persons who were on the ground to receive the distribution of seized bags of rice.
The NCS, in a statement released on Monday by Abdullahi Maiwada, Chief Superintendent of Customs, National Public Relations Officer, said that the initiative has been put on hold following the fatalities and injuries recorded as a result of the stampede in Lagos.
The NCS noted that although the exercise was conducted in adherence to strict safety rules, things got out of hand when they ran out of stock.
Consequently, the crowd, desperate for bags of rice inside emptied containers, charged through barricades, which created the stampede.
Therefore, the NCS said investigation is ongoing to ascertain the true cause of the incident.
The NCS stated, “The disposal of the food items got off to a smooth start at about 0800hrs. We enjoyed the cooperation of the large crowd that obliged us, giving preferences to the elderly, people living with disabilities, pregnant women, and other vulnerable Nigerians who showed up for the exercise. This was the case up until about 1700hrs, as attested to by the over 5000 beneficiaries and members of the press.
“However, unforeseen challenges arose when we ran out of stock and announced the continuation of the exercise the following day, leading to a regrettable outcome. The crowd became desperate and charged through our barricades in search of rice bags inside emptied containers. In the stampede that ensued, some fatalities and injuries were regrettably recorded.
“The Nigeria Customs Service extends its heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives during the unfortunate incident. Our thoughts and prayers are with the affected families during this challenging time, and we assure them of our unwavering support. We are working with Hospital Authorities to establish contact and engage directly with the victims’ families on their next steps. Following this incident, an internal investigation was initiated to understand the circumstances surrounding this unfortunate event.
“As a service deeply committed to the welfare and safety of Nigerians, we recognize the need for heightened sensitivity and preventive measures in all our operations. Considering the recent unfortunate event, we regrettably announce the suspension of this exercise until we establish what transpired on Friday, 23 February 2024. This should help us to properly articulate more robust and comprehensive action that will not defeat the noble intention. We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of all Nigerians as we work towards addressing the challenges facing our nation’s food security.
It would be recalled that last Friday, the NCS, following a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, initiated an intervention to ease hardships faced by millions of Nigerians and enhance access to essential food items by directly selling seized edible goods that had been condemned in competent courts of law and certified fit for consumption by relevant government agencies.
