The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has halted the sale of seized food items following a tragic incident that occurred at NCS Old Zonal Headquarters in the Yaba area of Lagos State last Friday, February 23.
Initially, the agency planned to sell seized food items starting from February 20, 2024, to alleviate the economic challenges and high cost of living in the country. However, during the sale at its Yaba office, a stampede erupted, resulting in casualties among members of the public who rushed to collect bags of rice.
In a statement released today, February 26, Abdullahi Maiwada, the spokesperson of NCS, announced the suspension.
Maiwada acknowledged the cooperation of a large crowd, especially in prioritizing the elderly, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, and other vulnerable Nigerians during the exercise. However, unforeseen challenges arose when the stock ran out, and the announcement of the exercise’s continuation the next day led to an unfortunate outcome.
As the crowd surged forward in search of rice bags inside emptied containers, a stampede occurred, resulting in fatalities and injuries. The Customs expressed deep condolences to the families of the deceased and assured collaboration with health authorities to support the victims’ families. Additionally, an internal investigation has been initiated to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident.
In light of the recent tragic event, the Customs regretfully announced the suspension of the exercise until a thorough understanding of the events of February 23, 2024, is established. This pause will allow for the formulation of more comprehensive measures that align with the noble intentions of the initiative.
