The Nigeria Customs Service is currently investigating reports of multiple fatalities during a recent sale of confiscated rice, as increasing numbers of people in Africa’s most populous country express their anger towards the escalating food prices. According to the spokesperson for the service, Abdullahi Maiwada, the chaos that erupted at the scene of the sale was a result of people disregarding the established procedures and rules. Although Maiwada could not confirm or deny any deaths, he acknowledged that an investigation is underway.
Long lines have formed outside the Lagos customs office since the commencement of the rice sale as thousands of locals eagerly try to secure a bag of 25-kilogram rice, which is being sold at a discounted price of 10,000 naira ($6.80). Witnesses have reportedly seen individuals being trampled to death during the frantic crowd surges on Friday.
The unfortunate incident comes at a time when widespread anti-government protests have broken out in various parts of Nigeria, as the country grapples with one of its most severe cost-of-living crises. Inflation has reached nearly 30%, which is the highest it has been in the past 30 years, leaving over 80 million Nigerians struggling to get by on less than $2 a day. This equates to being part of the world’s second-largest poor population, according to the World Bank.
The Nigerian Customs Service stated that the distribution of the confiscated rice bags was part of the government’s efforts to tackle the pressing issue of food insecurity. Despite this, critics have expressed concerns about the initiative’s effectiveness and feasibility given the country’s worsening food Website security situation.
The cost of rice, a staple food in Nigeria, has experienced significant price increases in recent months. It is now priced at over N70,000 ($47.60) per 50kg bag, contrasting with the previous range of 45,000 to 50,000 naira. The customs service has been confiscating contraband rice from smugglers in accordance with the Nigerian government’s restrictions on foreign rice imports.
Political analyst Sam Amadi questioned the viability of the rice distribution initiative in tackling Nigeria’s worsening food insecurity, stating that clearer policies and frameworks should be implemented. He also raised concerns about the consistency and scope of the intervention, as well as the potential impact it might have on food Website security in the country.
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has pledged to find home-grown solutions to address the nation’s food Website security challenges. However, his government faced criticism last November for allocating funds towards purchasing SUV vehicles for the presidency and renovating the president’s residential quarters during a time when the country was grappling with mounting debts.
In response to the food crisis, the Lagos government announced plans to alleviate the situation by opening special markets across the state to sell essential food items at affordable rates. The governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, aims to serve over 500,000 Lagosians with these food items and construct food hubs to help combat inflation.
