Nigerians Consuming Expired Foreign Rice – Customs Boss

Matilda Omonaiye/

The Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), has disclosed that Nigerians who consume imported rice were eating expired products.

Speaking today during an inspection tour of Area I Command, Port Harcourt and Area II Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Onne, Ali said the so-called foreign rice is expired rice that was only polished and re-bagged

Also speaking on the continued closure of the nation’s border, Ali said the decision would attract long term gains for the country. He appealed to Nigerians to endure the inconveniences occasioned by the closure.

Ali also advised security agencies to develop robust methods of sensitising the public about the ”deadly” effect of what they were consuming.

He noted that the aim of the smugglers of foreign rice and other banned products was to bring the country to her knees, but said that the Customs will continue to ensure that they do not succeed.

“We are consuming expired foreign rice and when it causes cancer, we begin to look for who to blame. What they do is that they polish the rice, re-bag them for unsuspecting consumers. That is what we eat.

”We (Nigeria Customs Service) must reach out to Nigerians through the media and make them know the deadly effect of what they are consuming,” he said.