…temporarily suspends food distribution initiative
Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has offered condolences to the families of the deceased during the stampede in Lagos amid the NCS food intervention with 25kg rice bags sold at N10,000.
The Service conveyed this sympathy and announced the temporary suspension of the food distribution in a statement issued by the National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada on Monday following casualties recorded at the Old Customs Zonal headquarters, Yaba, last week.
“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 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,” the statement read.
According to the NCS, the exercise was conducted following meticulous planning to address all potential risks that may emerge during the exercise.
“As part of our process and control measures, we had Nigeria Police and military personnel to ensure crowd control. We also fully equipped a medical team on ground in anticipation of potential risks during an exercise of that magnitude. Their presence was part of our proactive approach to ensuring the safety and well-being of all participants,” the NCS statement read.
Giving an account of the event last Friday, the NCS said the disposal of the food items got off to a smooth start at about 8am and the ambience remained orderly until 5pm when the rice got depleted.
The Service, however, maintained that is deeply committed to the welfare and safety of Nigerians and recognizes the need for heightened sensitivity and preventive measures in all its 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,” the NCS said.
