Customs intercepts ‘truckloads of food heading for Niger Republic’

The Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) joint border patrol team, Sector IV in Sokoto, says it has intercepted truckloads of food heading for Niger Republic.

NAN reports that Kolapo Oladeji, the coordinating comptroller, said customs officers impounded the trucks at the Kajji community on the Sokoto-Kebbi road.

He said the truckloads of food items were heading to neighbouring Niger Republic through the Kebbi border. 

“We will leave no stone unturned to block food smuggling out of the country because of the current situation,” he said. 

“We all know that prices of food items have skyrocketed because of the activities of some Nigerians. 

“Our people are hungry but prefer to take the food to other countries despite the border closures imposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

“We will continue to trail them and block their routes. And whoever is caught in this infamous act will face the full wrath of the law.”

Nigeria is grappling with food inflation and economic hardship. The federal government recently announced the release of 42,000 tons of grains from the strategic reserves, to alleviate the hunger pervading the land.

The comptroller added that operatives also seized a consignment of sex-enhancement drugs worth N19.6 million.

“These drugs are hazardous to the health of our people. Some of them even carried fake National Agency For Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) registration and expiring dates,” he said.