Metro

Customs Gives Condition For Nigerians To Benefit From Food Distribution

Published

11 months ago

February 24, 2024

The Nigeria Customs Service said only Nigerian citizens with a verifiable National Identification Number (NIN) can benefit from the food items distribution.

The agency begun distributing seized food items to hungry citizens to help mitigate the current hardships.

Speaking at the flag-off of the exercise in Lagos, the comptroller-general of customs, Wale Adeniyi, said the federal government ordered the distribution of the seized food items.

Mr Adeniyi said customs was working with other agencies to distribute the seized foods directly to needy Nigerians. Mr Adeniyi said Nigerians would require a verifiable NIN to benefit.

“Our target includes artisans, teachers, religious organisations and other Nigerians within the area of customs operations, including the border areas.

“The intention of this distribution is to reach out directly to members of organisations that have structures to ensure the maximum impact of the exercise.

“The effort of the distribution is to ensure robust security protocol throughout the process as officers will closely monitor the entire supply chain to prevent any misuse or possible diversion of food items,” said Mr Adeniyi.

He said that the gesture was part of the federal government’s efforts to reduce food prices in the country.

The customs boss added, “We collaborate with other sister agencies of the government, while customs is the lead agency because the food items are with us.

“Among us here are the police and DSS, and tomorrow, we are going to have a full department of all the sister organisations for proper monitoring.”

Mr Adeniyi said the rice distributed was certified for consumption by the National Agency For Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) before being re-bagged to 25kg to reach as many Nigerians as possible.

The customs boss said 10 points had been created for the processing, and interested Nigerians should come with their NIN to restrict people from benefiting twice.

He added that customs would work with the police to ensure the food items were not resold.

Mr Adeniyi, however, urged Nigerians to report any incident of misuse or unauthorised resale of the food items. He said customs would not hesitate to arrest and prosecute anyone possessing food items in their stores.

Mr Adeniyi said customs officers had intercepted over 20,000 bags of 50kg of parboiled rice, beans, maise, millet, and soya beans.

The customs boss added that the area commands detained over 50 trucks containing the food items.

He said other items seized included 2,500 cartons of 963 bags of assorted dried fish, dry pepper, seasoning, salt, cooking oil, macaroni, sugar and garri.

(NAN)

Metro

State security operatives rescue three pastors, 13 others in Kogi

Published

19 hours ago

January 23, 2025

Naijablitznews

Kogi security operatives on Wednesday rescued three pastors and 13 other victims who had been kidnapped by hoodlums in the Ofu Local Government Area of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 16 victims, including the three pastors, were abducted after a crusade in Ejule, Ofu LGA.

They regained their freedom following the intervention of a combined team of security personnel in the state.

The pastors, who were guest ministers at the crusade, were on their way to their guest house after the second day of the three-day event.

They were ambushed by hoodlums around 11 p.m. on Monday, January 20, on a street off the Ejule-Anyigba road.

Upon being alerted, the Nigerian Army quickly mobilised other security operatives, launching a thorough search that lasted two nights before locating the kidnappers in a forest.

After a two-hour gunfight, the kidnappers fled with varying degrees of injury, leaving behind the victims.

Kogi’s Deputy Governor, Joel Salifu, on Wednesday lauded the bravery of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies involved in the rescue.

In a statement issued by his Press Secretary, Emmanuel Unubi, Salifu expressed his relief that the victims were safely freed and commended the security personnel for their efforts.

He also emphasised that under Gov. Ahmed Ododo, Kogi would not be a safe haven for criminals, noting the state’s commitment to maintaining security and protecting lives and property.(NAN)

Metro

EFCC arrests 37 suspected internet fraudsters in Awka

Published

23 hours ago

January 23, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Operatives of the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, said they have arrested 37 suspected internet fraudsters.

The commission stated that the all-male suspects were arrested in a sting operation at Commissioners’ Quarters, Dr. J. O. Ukwutinife Close, Ifite, Awka, Anambra State.

According to a statement posted on its official X handle on Wednesday, EFCC said that the development followed credible intelligence linking the suspects to fraudulent internet activities.

The commission listed the items recovered from them to include six exotic cars, laptops and mobile phones.

“They will be charged in court as soon as investigations are concluded,” the statement concluded.

Metro

Gov Alia locks out hundreds of Benue workers for late coming

Published

1 day ago

January 23, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Several hundred civil servants in Benue State who arrived late to work on Wednesday were locked out by stern-looking security personnel assigned to the state governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia.

At approximately 10:35 AM on Wednesday, the governor made an unscheduled visit to the state secretariat to inspect ongoing renovation work, including the installation of lighting.

As soon as the convoy of the governor drove into the secretariat, the gates were locked by security officers leading to hundreds of state civil servants locked out.

To the governor’s surprise, during his tour from one ministry to another, he found that several commissioners and other key officials were absent from work.

Angered by this situation, the governor later addressed a large crowd of workers gathered at the gate after his inspection.

He expressed deep concern about their attitudes towards government work and warned them against failing to fulfil their responsibilities for the salaries they receive.

According to the governor, “With what you are doing, you are creating a vicious circle for your families. You cannot get money and be uplifted because you are cheaters and because of the effect of what you are doing.

“The work I do is not for me, but for those who don’t know that am the governor and those who will see me and not recognize me.

“Am appealing to you because I have a quick way of getting your names and firing you as I have the power to do so. I am speaking to you as a priest and not as governor and telling you the dangers of what you are doing.

He added, “It is not about me, who is government? All of you here are the government. Even in the family, somebody governs the home and there are rules. And in every government; there are rules. Am not frustrated but I do not want you to be doomed.

“See what you can do if not for yourselves but for the people you are caring for and are behind you because they are the ones to take the heat”.