The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has suspended its food disposal initiative following a stampede that claimed seven lives on Feb. 23.

The unfortunate incident was during the distribution of 25Kg bags of rice at its Zonal Headquarters, Yaba, Lagos State.

The service announced the suspension in a statement by its National Public Relations Officer, Mr Abdullahi Maiwada, on Monday.

Maiwada said that the suspension was part of the service’s resolve to ensure the safety of Nigerians and to enable it properly articulate its next line of action, in order not to defeat the vision of the initiative.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the NCS had announced on Feb. 20 that it would facilitate the direct disposal of food items forfeited to the Federal Government.

The initiative was in response to the current challenges of food security in Nigeria and the increasingly high costs of essential food items. It also targeted an improvement in the lives of indigents.

The distribution of 25kg of rice, thus, commenced on Feb. 23 at the discounted price of N10,000 in Lagos.