President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has instructed the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to return all seized rice and other food items to their rightful owners for sale in local markets. The announcement was made by the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, during a stakeholder meeting held in Kwangwalam, a border town in the Maiadua Local Government Area of Katsina State on Saturday.
Adeniyi conveyed that President Tinubu’s directive aims to ensure the populace’s access to affordable food, highlighting it as a significant step toward promoting food security in the nation. However, he clarified that the return of confiscated food items is conditional, stipulating that they must be sold exclusively within Nigerian markets.
Explaining the rationale behind the directive, Adeniyi stated, “The whole idea is to promote food security and ensure that Nigerians will not be living with hunger, and Mr. President considers this as one of the strategies that can help address the problem of food security.”
Highlighting the impact of seized food items on the domestic market, Adeniyi revealed, “We have over 120 trucks of food items for export seized, which means a lot of food items were taken out of our markets, leading to the unavailability that created some pressure on the prices of these food items. So, we hope that by the time we restock our markets, it will have some positive effects on the prices.”
During his visit, CGC Adeniyi also met with former President Muhammadu Buhari in his country home and conferred with the Emir of Daura, Dr. Umar Farouq Umar, in his palace. The Emir bestowed upon CGC Adeniyi the traditional title of Mabudin Hausa, in recognition of his contributions to the nation.
Meanwhile, Prophet Prince Kunle Hephzibah, popularly known as “Baba Peculiar,” has prophesied that the current economic suffering experienced in Nigeria will not stop anytime soon. The leader of the Peculiar God’s Glory Ministry International made the comment during an interview with Daily Sun, attributing the prolonged hardship to the present administration’s policies.
Prophet Hephzibah criticized the direction in which the country is heading under President Tinubu’s leadership, referring to the government’s initiatives as “bitter leaf and bitter kola policies.” He suggested that the implemented strategies are contributing to the ongoing economic challenges faced by the Nigerian populace.
In conclusion, President Tinubu’s directive to return seized food items by the Nigeria Customs Service reflects a commitment to ensuring food security and affordability for Nigerians. This move, coupled with efforts to address economic challenges, underscores the government’s dedication to improving the welfare of its citizens.
