Our Bad Manners, Death And Customs Give-away Rice

BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

But for our propensity for bad manners, death should be the last thing to expect from the distribution and sales of seized subsidized rice by the Nigeria Customs Service.

Women who are supposed to be exemplary of moral character demonstrating open defiance, disrupting the free flow of the exercise

And unless and until as a people, we strive to shun and outlive these negative behaviours, praise worthy endeavours like the sales of government items to the masses at a time like this, will continue to end up with a tinge of regret; and anyone can be a victim.

Opinions have been expressed that the reported stampede that attended the exercise at the facility of the customs service in Yaba Lagos was due to poor crowd management. While it is okay to align with this position that crowd management is a necessity, society must also understand that the success of crowd management is directly and proportionately dependent on our readiness to avail ourselves to control.

How we defied the exercise, leading gradually to reported fatality

It is instructive that a day before the commencement of sales of the items, the management of the NCS via the mass media addressed Nigerians, and outlined the procedures and processes, including the security protocol which depends on adherence to the simple rule of discipline.

From video footage of the exercise, it was manifestly clear that the deviants amongst the participants refused to submit to queue and sought extraneous means of accessing the sales point; where customs officers on duty were apparently overwhelmed.

How else can a nation achieve crowd control when we the citizens and beneficiary of a special scheme, elect to advertise our ungovernable nature and spurn every simple rule? Closely linked to our inordinate nature to break the rules is the other propensity, seemingly by far the greater vice, our uniform abuse!

They persist because there are no serious sanctions and hence society is unwilling to be law abiding. There are pictorial evidence of fence and gate crashing, including roof scaling by soldiers in uniform. Reports say that despite plea by officers of the NCS for them to return to their barracks, some allegedly refused and were believed to have forcefully helped themselves to the items.

A society that is lax in punishing crimes, indiscipline and offences is doomed to greater disasters.  Whereas the scheme was designed for the vulnerable, salaried uniform men and people with evident good living standard, obviously above the average, also stormed the location to queue and scramble for rice.

Nor is our government a respecter of rules, the officials who are supposed to be the guardian of public trust, always find ways of stealing and mismanaging every palliative schemes and emergencies arising from natural disasters, like children school feeding programmes, support for flood or fire victims.

Whereas the NCS have expressed indication to investigate the reported fatal stampede, the service should beam searchlight on the category of salaried personnel at the sales point, while it is hoped that the respective authorities will deal decisively with any of their personnel identified in the shameful escapde.

Speaking at the flag-off of the rice disbursement program in Lagos last Thursday, , the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, clearly stated that the initiative is for the needy.

He noted that the NCS commitment is to align with President Bola Tinubu-led administration’s plans to tackle the pressing issue of food insecurity by standing in the gap with the commencement of sales of seized food items to Nigerians on give-away prices of N10, 000 to a 25kg bag of rice.

The customs boss stressed the importance of transparency and accountability in the distribution process, and urge Nigerians who will be participating in the exercise to be law abiding and to refrain from re-selling the rice in markets or hoarding it for purposes other than domestic consumption.

Specifically, the CGC said the NCS secured approval of the government to dispose of the seized food items to needy Nigerians at discounted prices after satisfying the verification process of prospective buyers vide the National Identification Number (NIN).

“The target groups include artisans, teachers, nurses, religious bodies, and other Nigerians within our operational areas. The intention is to reach out directly to members through these organized structures to ensure the maximum impact of this exercise”, he said.

A mock demonstration exercise which was intended to prepare Nigerians for the real exercise was conducted with media practitioners at its Harvey Road Yaba Lagos facility, and it proved timely and hitch free.

It is also instructive that the CGC assured that adequate security measures have been put in place to control movement and ensure safety of participants; using a contingent of police officers’ presence as example of the precautionary preparation.

He said, “To ensure the security and integrity of this initiative, the NCS has put in place comprehensive measures. These measures encompass robust security protocols throughout the process. Our officers will be closely monitoring the entire supply chain.

“Moreover, we have established strict guidelines and eligibility criteria to ensure that the items are distributed only to those in genuine need. Additionally, we will be working closely with relevant agencies to ensure compliance with the terms of this program.”

Sadly, bad eggs in the rank of those who should support the NCS to ensure a hitch free exercise also became part of the threats leading to loss of control and avoidable death.

Thus far, our impossible attitude, belligerence, lack of decorum and flashes of our collective iniquities, more than the trumpeted poor crowd management will always be our undoing; until we elect to become better.

May the souls of the departed find solace in heavenly bliss.