The Nigerian Customs Service has announced a temporary halt to the sale of seized food items across all commands nationwide following a tragic stampede at the NCS Old Zonal Headquarters in Yaba, Lagos State, last Friday.
In a press statement released on Monday, the agency’s spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwa, conveyed the decision to suspend sales as a precautionary measure in light of the incident.
The Customs had initially planned to sell seized food items on February 20, 2024, as part of efforts to alleviate hardship and reduce the cost of living in the country.
The first sale took place at the Yaba office last Friday, with the presence of various security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force.
According to Maiwa, the sales commenced smoothly in the morning, with over 5,000 beneficiaries and members of the press in attendance. However, the situation took a tragic turn when the stock ran out, and the announcement of continuation the next day led to chaos.
Maiwa explained, “The crowd became desperate and breached our barricades in search of rice bags inside emptied containers, resulting in a stampede with regrettable fatalities and injuries.”
Expressing condolences to the families of the victims, the Customs announced its collaboration with health authorities to support the affected families.
An internal investigation has also been initiated to ascertain the circumstances leading to the incident.
“In light of the recent unfortunate event, we regretfully announce the suspension of this exercise until a thorough investigation is conducted to determine what transpired,” the statement read.
The Customs emphasized the need for a more comprehensive approach to prevent such incidents in the future and ensure the noble intention behind the initiative is upheld.
