Controversy Trails Distribution Of Relief Materials In Kano By Nigeria Customs

By Abdulateef Jos

Mix reaction has continue to trail the ongoing distribution of relief materials by Nigeria Customs Service as many accused the service of lopsidedness in Kano during the exercise.

Nigeria Customs Service flags off distribution of bags of confiscated foreign Rice from smugglers to Internal Displace Persons Camps and Orphanage homes across the country.

The disbursement of the relief materials is in compliance with the presidential directive aimed at ameliorating the suffering of the places.

A coalition of community support group  for social services in Kano on Saturday criticized the process of selecting beneficiaries, claimed that Customs was being selective in the distribution.

Leader of the group Nasiru Musa told reporters at Kano/Jigawa Command office of the Customs Service in Kano, lamented that over 50 associations that besieged the Customs office to collect the food stuff for onward distribution to orphans were denied.

He said, ” We have been waiting since Thursday when the Customs started the distribution but they refused to attend to us. We applied and show them how the Rice will be distributed to the orphans who are in need but this people will not listen.

” But while we are waiting on queue here, we saw people coming in and driving out with bags of Rice. We have even saw people from Kaduna, Katsina and Jigawa states coming to collect the food materials and that is why we believe Customs is not doing the right thing. We want the government to check the development”.

Reacting to the development , Spokesperson of Nigeria Customs Service, Deputy Controller of Customs DCC Josephs Atta denied the allegation.

Atta told journalists in Kano that the relief materials are meant ‘only’ for registered, recognized and verified IDP’s and Orphanage homes in Kano.

The Customs PRO stressed that 103 associations including IDP and Orphanage homes had so far benefitted in Kano.

” We started the distribution in Lagos and South west states before moving to FCT, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kaduna and Katsina. Now, we are in Kano. The mandate is to distribute these materials to registered, recognized and verified IDP’s and Orphanage homes.

” But those complaining outside have no reason to be here in the first instance. We are not given instruction to start sharing Rice on the streets. Now for the records, we have visited Mariri home where you find about 200 children from Northeast, we also went to Nassarawa home and other places “. Atta reacted