In adherence to a Presidential directive aimed at enhancing food security, the Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has on 12 March 2024 in Sokoto authorized the release of fifteen trucks laden with grain back to their rightful owners.
In a statement signed by Superintendent of Customs Abdullahi Abubakar, the Public Relations Officer of the command noted that the Customs Area Controller (CAC) Comptroller Kamal Mohammed, during the handover ceremony held at the Command Headquarters in Sokoto, urged the traders to reciprocate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s magnanimity by ensuring that the grains are promptly sold within Nigerian markets.
Furthermore, Comptroller Kamal announced collaborative efforts with the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU) and the Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT) to monitor the distribution of these grains across local markets, ensuring they do not find their way out of the country through smuggling channels.
Issuing a stern warning to smugglers, the CAC emphasized the Nigeria Customs Service’s unwavering commitment, under the leadership of Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, to combat smuggling activities.
He explained, “The recent addition of patrol fleets to the Command underscores our dedication to securing the borders and thwarting unpatriotic endeavors aimed at compromising national interests for personal gain.”
In response, Dahiru Ladan, the Secretary of the Grain Sellers Association of Sokoto, expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his compassionate decision and assured the public that the Union would ensure the grains are distributed and sold exclusively within Nigerian markets.
According to the statement, “This initiative reflects a concerted effort towards bolstering food security and safeguarding national interests, underscoring the importance of collaborative endeavors between government agencies and stakeholders in ensuring a prosperous and self-sufficient nation.”
