Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) joint border patrol team, Sector IV in Sokoto, Northwest region, said it has intercepted truckloads of food heading for Niger Republic.
The Coordinating Comptroller, Kolapo Oladeji, said customs officers impounded the trucks at the Kajji community on the Sokoto-Kebbi road.
Oladeji said the truckloads of food items were heading to neighbouring Niger Republic through the Kebbi border.
Adeniyi,Customs Controller
He said, “We will leave no stone unturned to block food smuggling out of the country because of the current situation.
“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.”
The country is grappling with food inflation and economic hardship.
The federal government of Nigeria 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.
Oladeji said, “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.”
Agency reports
