2Years After: Customs Set To Evacuate Over 10,000 Bags Of Expired Rice From Marine Command

Barely two years the items were intercepted , the Nigeria Customs Services , Western Marine Command has concluded plans to evacuate over 10,000 bags of expired smuggled rice from its warehouse.

The marine Command which recently impounded about 342 bags of rice along the waterways , explained that the expired staple food in large quantities would be evacuated to animal farms across the country.

Our correspondent confirmed that the latest seizure of rice has no facility for warehousing as the whole building at the command have been stockpiled with bags of rice.

Findings also revealed that the warehouse can accommodate an approximate 20,000 bags at once.

The buildings at the command are supposedly meant for personnel’s accommodation but bags of rice have invaded the whole facilities.

But speaking on the development, Controller in charge of the beachcoming unit, Comptroller Olugboyega Peters in a chat with our correspondent in Lagos , pointed out that the rice would be removed from the major warehouse before the end of next week, adding that the Comptroller General of the service, Col Hameed Ali rtd had given directive for the evacuation of the expired items.

Comptroller Peters reiterated that the committee set up for that purpose would swing into action to evacuate the items in order to accommodate fresh seizures.

“We have a warehouse right there, filled up with rice , though expired rice but we have constructively warehouse the new seized items. The seized foreign bags of rice are stacked outside but we are working on how remove the items to warehouse new seizures.

“Officers from the headquarters will be coming over to evacuate the expired rice.”

In 2018 the warehouse of the Western Marine Command had about 5,646 expired bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice worth N124, 776, 600.00.

The amphibian arm of the service has lamented that due to massive seizure in the command, the warehouse had been filled up leaving no space for new seizures.

The immediate past Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Boyiliya Binga , last year ,told journalists that some of the seized bags of smuggled rice which have been in the customs warehouse for close to two years are no longer edible.

By Roland Ekama