The Nigeria Customs Service has announced the suspension of the sale of seized food items to the public following a tragic incident at the Nigeria Customs Service Old Zonal Headquarters in Yaba, Lagos State, on Friday.
In a statement released on Monday by Abdullahi Maiwada, a spokesperson for Customs, the decision to suspend the sale was made in response to the unfortunate stampede that resulted in loss of lives.
The Customs had initiated the disposal of food items at its Yaba office last Friday in the presence of other security agencies. Initially, the process commenced smoothly with cooperation from the crowd, particularly prioritizing vulnerable individuals such as the elderly, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, and others in need. However, unforeseen challenges arose when the stock ran out and the continuation of the exercise was announced for the following day.
The announcement triggered desperation among the crowd, leading to a breach of barricades as individuals sought rice bags within emptied containers. Tragically, this resulted in fatalities and injuries.
In light of this regrettable incident, the Customs Service has suspended the exercise until a thorough investigation is conducted to ascertain the events of Friday, February 23, 2024. The suspension aims to facilitate the development of more comprehensive measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.
The statement expressed the Service’s commitment to ensuring a safer and more orderly process moving forward, aligning with its noble intentions of serving the public interest.