Return seized food items to owners, Tinubu orders Customs

Return seized food items to owners, Tinubu orders Customs

The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has said that President Bola Tinubu has directed the Nigerian Customs Service to return all seized grains to their owners for onward retailing in the Nigerian markets.

The CGC disclosed this during a stakeholder meeting at Kwangwalam, a border town in the Maiadua Local Government Area of Katsina State on Saturday.

Addressing recent seizures by Customs operatives in the area, the CGC stated that presidential directives mandated the return of seized food items to their owners, with the condition that they be sold within Nigerian markets.

He said the directive was given by the president in his magnanimous gesture of ensuring that people of the country have enough food to buy at cheaper prices from the markets.

He said, however, that the return of the confiscated food items to the owners was based only on the condition that it would be sold in the Nigerian markets.

“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.

“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,” he said.

He emphasised the crucial role played by community intelligence in ensuring adherence to regulations and enforcement measures, “By leveraging the knowledge and insights gathered from residents, authorities can effectively monitor and respond to potential violations, thus enhancing the overall effectiveness of enforcement efforts.”

Expressing satisfaction with the longstanding collaboration between the Service and the residents of Mai’adua, the CGC emphasised the need for continued synergy to achieve more significant milestones.

He lauded the steadfast backing provided by Governor Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State, emphasising the governor’s consistent and steadfast commitment to advancing the objectives and accomplishments of the Nigeria Customs Service.

“This unwavering support from the state government has been instrumental in facilitating the effective execution of Customs operations and initiatives within the region,” he said.

“Governor Radda’s collaboration and partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service reflects a shared vision for promoting security, prosperity, and development in the state and beyond,” he said.

Representing the Katsina State Governor, Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Naziru Mua’azu Danmusa, extended gratitude to the CGC for his visit and lauded the Nigeria Customs Service for its efforts in safeguarding lives and property.

The engagement underscored the commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service to foster constructive dialogue and collaboration with border communities, ensuring mutual prosperity and security.

In the same vein, the Galadima of Daura, Engr Ahmad Diddiri Ahmad, and the District Head of Mai’adua commended the CGC for his visit, citing it as a testament to the productive partnership between the Service and Mai’adua’s residents.

Highlighting the exemplary conduct of Mai’adua’s residents, they advocated for the reopening of the Nigerian border with Niger to rejuvenate local businesses.