695
Nigeria Customs Service has donated 32,576 bags of rice, 1,794 kegs of
Vegetable oil, 329 bales of used clothes and other relief materials to some
orphanages in Ogun and South West states.
The distribution of relief items to orphanages in Zone ‘A’ was carried out
by the Sub-committee Chairman, Comptroller Yakubu Salihu, who announced
this at the kick off of the donations in Abeokuta, the state capital on
Saturday.
He said the exercise is in line with a presidential directive aimed at
bringing succour and ameliorating the plight of Internally Displaced
Persons (IDPs) and orphans.
Comptroller Yakubu said that “immediately after the inauguration of the
committee, we swung into action identifying and verifying all IDPs and
orphanages in all the states and the federal capital territory.
“The sub-committee under my leadership kick started this important
assignment in Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service in Lagos on Tuesday 12
February 2019.
“Three weeks into the exercise, we are happy to announce that a great
impact has been made in the lives of orphans in the Zone in line with the
Federal Government intention to alleviate the suffering of the less
privilege citizens.
“So far, we have been able to achieve the following; Total number of items
distributed Rice- 32,576 bags, Vegetable oil- 1,794 kegs, Bales of used
clothes- 329 bales and 24 loosed bags, Sugar- 47 bags, Used shoes- 2,675
pairs, Tomatoes paste- 98 cartons, Seasonings- 6 cartons, Soaps/detergents-
13 cartons and Foreign flour- 11 bags”
He added that Customs had commenced donation of relief items were
distributed to a total number of 134 orphanages with a cumulative number
of 7,350 orphans in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states.
The orphanages that benefited include; Little saints, Raco child, Vigilant
Heart, Jesus kids, Stella Obansanjo children home among others.
Comptroller Yakubu in a statement sent newsmen said, “In carrying this
assignment, we are strictly guided by the directive to ensure that these
items are given to only recognized homes.
“The allocated items are escorted with landing certificates which must be
signed by operators of the homes upon receipt of the items. This is to
ensure that all allocated items get to intended recipients.
“Apart from being official assignment, we see this exercise as being
spiritually rewarding and appreciate the Comptroller-General of Customs,
Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd), for considering us worthy of carrying out
activities that positively impact on the lives of orphans.
“As noble as the intention of Federal Government is, we have discovered
that some unpatriotic elements are cashing on this exercise by going to
orphanages pretending to be working for the service, collecting documents
supposedly for the committee.
The obvious criminal intention to extort money or some of the items for
“facilitating” the allocation is not lost on us.
“Already two people impersonating the committee have been arrested and
detained at Seme border.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the service has not permitted any person or
organization to contact orphanages, IDPs or indeed any vulnerable group on
belief of the committee.
“We have our own way of identifying and verifying such homes or groups that
qualify for the ongoing distribution.
“As the Sub-Committee moves to Zone B, Kaduna and other north western states
of the country in this ongoing distribution, we are determined to ensure
that those that fall within our mandate get these items in a transparent
manner.”