The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the suspension of its food disposal initiative following a tragic stampede that resulted in the loss of seven lives on February 23 at its Zonal Headquarters in Yaba, Lagos State. 

Abdullahi Maiwada, a spokesperson for the Customs, made this announcement in a statement released on Monday.

The Customs had initially planned to dispose of seized food items as part of efforts to alleviate the hardship and high cost of living in the country. The initiative commenced on February 20, 2024, with the disposal of food items at the Yaba office, in collaboration with other security agencies such as the Nigeria Police Force.

According to Maiwada, the disposal exercise began smoothly and enjoyed the cooperation of a large crowd, particularly prioritizing vulnerable groups such as the elderly, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women. However, unforeseen challenges arose when the stock ran out, and the continuation of the exercise was announced for the following day.

The announcement led to a desperate surge among the crowd, resulting in a stampede as individuals attempted to access rice bags inside emptied containers. Tragically, this stampede led to fatalities and injuries among the attendees.

In response to the incident, the Nigeria Customs Service extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and expressed regret over the outcome of the disposal exercise. The Service affirmed its commitment to working with health authorities to establish contact and provide support to the affected families as they navigate this difficult time.

As a result of the stampede and its tragic consequences, the Customs has suspended its food disposal initiative and will be reviewing its procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future.