The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has donated food items and relief materials to some orphanages in Lagos and other Southwest states. In all, 68, 256 bags of 50kg rice, clothing materials and other items will be distributed by the Service.
NCS National Public Relations Officer, Joseph Attah, made this known during the flag-off of the donations in Lagos.
Attah, a Deputy Comptroller of Customs, told reporters that in compliance with the presidential directive, a seven-man sub-committee was inaugurated by the Comptroller-General of Customs to oversee the distribution of the relief materials.
He said the distribution would take place in the four Customs zones to achieve a fair reach to intended recipients nationwide.
“You will recall that had earlier announced that the Comptroller- General secured Presidential approval for the extension of relief materials to orphanages. Before now, these items were being given to only IDPs by a National Logistics Committee comprising of various security and regulatory agencies, but with the relative peace in the Northeast and some of the IDPs returning home,the need to extend to other people in need arose,” he explained.
Attah further said to ensure that these items got to the intended recipients, landing certificates would be signed by recipients after taking delivery.
“We are giving out 68,256 units of 50kg bags of rice, over 200,000 litres of vegetable oil, tomato paste, spaghetti, soap, used clothing and other relief materials for Zone A comprising Southwest states.
‘’Nine operators of different orphanages in the Southwest have come forward for the relief materials. We are also assisting those without vehicles to convey the items to their areas,” Attah said.
The NCS had donated relief materials to victims of insurgency in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Edo states in February 2017.
