Customs suspends rice distribution in Lagos over stampede

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has suspended its food disposal initiative following a stampede that claimed seven lives in the Yaba area of Lagos State.

The incident occurred during the distribution of 25kg bags of rice at Customs zonal headquarters in Yaba on Friday, February 23, 2024.

The NCS announced the suspension in a statement issued by its National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, on Monday, February 26.

Maiwada said the suspension was part of the service’s resolve to ensure the safety of Nigerians and to enable it to properly articulate its next line of action, in order not to defeat the vision of the initiative.

Customs had, on February 20, announced that it would facilitate the direct disposal of food items forfeited to the federal government.

The initiative was in response to the current challenges of food security in Nigeria and the increasingly high costs of essential food items.

The distribution of 25kg of rice commenced on February 23 at the discounted price of N10,000 in Lagos.

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The Customs spokesperson, however, said the bags of rice were out of stock during the distribution, noting that this led to heightened desperation among the crowd.

He said: “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.

“Considering the recent unfortunate event, we regrettably announce the suspension of this exercise until we establish what transpired on Friday, 23 February 2024.”

Maiwada added that an internal investigation had been initiated to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident.

He, therefore, commiserated with the families of the deceased and assured them of Customs’ unwavering support.

“NCS is working with hospital authorities to establish contact and engage directly with the victims’ families regarding their next steps,” the Customs spokesman added.

The Star