Nigerians Storm Customs Office For Subsidised Rice
. 78 Vulnerable, 3,000 Others Benefit
By Abimbola Abdullah
Scores of Nigerians today (Friday) trooped to various Customs offices to benefit from the subsided rice sold by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
Indeed, no fewer than 78 Physical Challenged persons and other Nigerians who benefited from the subsidised 25kg foreign rice commended the Federal Government and the Nigerian Customs for giving them succor.
Some of the beneficiaries expressed their appreciation in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.
Recall that the distribution exercise commenced at 8.00 a.m. with support of the security agencies including Nigerian Police, DSS, Nigerian Army, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) among others. The 25kg bag of rice was sold for N10,000 after providing the National Identification Number (NIN).
It was observed thant many less privileged Nigerians were beneficiaries of the Government relieved food items.
Some of the beneficiaries of the first day of the distribution exercise were, artisans, teachers, religious bodies, less privileges person, Sweepers from various areas in Lagos.
One for the Beneficiaries, Mr Taiwo Lawal, a physical challenged person, busted in tears why appreciating the federal government for considering them in the distributing of the food items.
“This have never happened in the history of Nigeria where majority of Nigerians will benefit from relief items genuinely without preference.
” If Government engage more of this gesture price of good will reduce for common people to afford,” Lawal said.
Another vulnerable, Mrs Amdalat Balogun, who lost her sight from birth, said she got the news from radio and quickly borrowed N10,000 from her neighbour to enable her benefits from the rice.
Balogun said she bought the rice because of Ramadan fasting and appreciated the initiator as well as the federal government.
She also pleaded with government to improve more of the subsidised food to sustained the livelihood of the ordinary Nigerians.
The Chief Imam of Magodo Phase 2, Central Mosque, Imam Abdul-Semiu Kelani, thanked the government and prayed for successful regime of the present administration.
He said that the government gesture would go a long way to ease the poverty level on Nigerian during the hardship period in the country.
A cleric, Emmanuel Omoroke from St. Luis Catholic Church, who came on behalf of the indigent members explained the level of hungers in the country.
A sweeper, with the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mrs Morufat Bello, appreciated the government for the opportunity.
Mr Fatai Sulaimon, The Vice Chairman, Airport Branch of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), said that the subsidies food items would go a long waybin reducing hunger in the country.
A Nonagenarian, Mrs Adeke Lateef, who came with her grand child prayed for government for relieving them from hunger and urged government to do more
There was crowd outside the gate of the customs premises where the distribution took place.
Some elderly people were injured and customs treated them using First Aid.
Customs coordinated the crowd as many Nigerians around the area commended their generosity and orderliness.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, while addressing the pressure groups, religious leaders and other beneficiaries pleaded with them not to divert the foodstuffs to the market.
Adeniyi said that the federal government had mandated them to give to the less privileged people in the country.
He assured many Nigerians of benefiting from the Federal Government Food intervention adding that such gestures would be distributed in all customs commands in the country.
