The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the release of 15 trucks loaded with grains that were intercepted at the Sokoto State border last week while en route to neighbouring countries. The interception occurred along the Gwadabawa-Illela Road in Sokoto, according to Abdullahi Abubakar, the spokesman for the Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command of the NCS.
In compliance with a directive from President Bola Tinubu, the trucks were released to their owners, as confirmed by Kamal Mohammed, the Comptroller of the Command. The handover ceremony took place at the command’s headquarters in Sokoto.
Mohammed urged the traders to ensure that the grains reach Nigerian markets, emphasizing the commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service, under the leadership of Comptroller General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, to combat smuggling and protect the nation’s interests.
In response, Alhaji Dahiru Ladan, the Secretary of the Grain Sellers Association of Sokoto, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for his leniency and pledged to sell the grains exclusively in Nigerian markets. The gesture demonstrates a commitment to national interests and reinforces the importance of cooperation between government agencies and stakeholders in safeguarding the nation’s economy and food security.