The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has launched the distribution of seized food items, with a special focus on distributing rice in Lagos State.
The official announcement was made through the NCS official X handle (formerly Twitter).
According to Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the incumbent comptroller general of Nigeria Customs Service, benefiting from the opportunity, is contingent upon the verification process, which requires individuals to present their National Identification Number (NIN).
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, led the flag-off of the rice disbursement program in Lagos on Thursday, February 22, 2024. Adeniyi highlighted that the distribution strategy aimed to provide direct access to beneficiaries in areas where Customs operations are actively carried out.
Recall that the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS), selected Food Price Watch for January 2023, which shows that the average price of 1kg of Rice (locally sold loose) on a year-on-year basis rose by 19.67% from N430.21 in January 2022 to N514.83 in January 2023.
Also, on a month-on-month basis, it increased by 1.71% from N506.17 in December 2022. Similarly, the average price of 1kg of Onion bulb rose by 21.28% on a year-on-year basis from N368.10 in January 2022 to N446.44 in January 2023.
While on a month-on-month basis, the price rose by 2.41%.
In the same vein, the average price of Vegetable oil (1 bottle, specified bottle) stood at N1,183.67 in January 2023, showing an increase of 28.55% from N920.76 in January 2022. On a month-on-month basis, it rose by 1.89% from N1,161.76 in December 2022.
According to the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the average price of 1kg Beef boneless stood at N2,418.91 in January 2023.
This indicated that on a year-on-year basis, the price rose by 29.72% from the value recorded in January 2022 (N1,864.70), and 1.75% on a month-on-month basis from N2,377.29 in December 2022.
Whilst the average price of 1kg Beans brown, sold loose, increased on a year-on-year basis by 19.06% from N498.85 in January 2022 to N593.96 in January 2023. On a month-on-month basis, the average price of this item increased by 1.33% in January 2023.
According to Adeniyi, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) received government approval to sell the seized food items at discounted prices, contingent upon the verification process, which requires individuals to present their National Identification Number (NIN)
He however emphasized that transparency and accountability will be the hallmark of the activities and urged beneficiaries to refrain from reselling the rice in markets or diverting it for purposes other than domestic consumption.
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