The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced a temporary suspension of its food distribution initiative aimed at alleviating the hardship faced by Nigerians.
The NCS made this disclosure on Monday 26 February, 2024 in a statement released by its spokesperson Chief Superintendent of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada. According to the release, the temporary suspension was due to the stampede that ensued during the exercise where some fatalities and injuries were regrettably recorded.
“Unforeseen challenges arose when we ran out of stock and announced the continuation of the exercise the following day, leading to a regrettable outcome. The crowd became desperate and charged through our barricades in search of rice bags inside emptied containers,” the statement read in part.
The NCS has acknowledged fatalities and also extended condolences to the affected families. Maiwada also noted that an internal investigation has been initiated to understand the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate incident.
