Ebony rice
The Oyo/ Osun area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, on Wednesday, warned Nigerians to be wary of buying any kind of rice as poisonous and deadly bags of rice have been shipped into the country and are all over the markets.
The area controller of the command, Comptroller Udo-Aka Emmanuel, who make the observation at a press briefing in Ibadan said that some unpatriotic Nigerians have conspired with some importers to smuggle into the country via land borders expired and deadly bags of rice into the shore of the country.
He revealed that the expired products were brought into the country every day, adding that its consumption is dangerous to health as hundreds of bags of rice, said to be deadly, seized by men of the Command were paraded before newsmen.
He stated that investigations reveal that most of the deadly rice lasted for the period of four years before smugglers repackaged and change the expiring dates before sending it to Nigeria.
“I visited borders to investigate most of those products but let me tell you, they are expired,” he stated.
“Nigerians need to beware and patronize our local products. Research shows that smugglers repackage rice in their warehouse for more than four years and send it to Nigeria.”
The command also paraded some vehicles and goods intercepted in Saki axis area of Oyo State declaring that those who refuse to claim their seized goods within thirty days may forfeit it to Federal Government.
“I want to make crystal clear to the entire public that the period of 30 days of grace that was given for the public to pay duties for vehicles that were smuggled has expired.
“The grace period ended on the 19th of May, 2017. They should come forth with the genuine documents and claim ownership within thirty days after which the goods are liable for seizure,” he revealed.
File photo: Nigerian rice; good and healthy
