Protests in Kwara as Customs Seizes 704 Bags of Locally Produced Rice
A local rice producer and chairman of Mount Olive Nigeria limited, Mr Ademola Julius Thursday led hundreds of others in Ilorin, Kwara State capital to protest against the seizure of 704 bags of rice belonging to his company.
The bags of rice were seized from his warehouse apparently believing that they were smuggled into the country.
The protesters were gathered at the Oja-Tuntun Market in Ilorin condemning the seizure of the rice and insisting that the bags or rice were locally produced in the country.
Julius who led his staff and others for the protest said officials of the Customs Service stormed his warehouse to seize the rice at 2am.
He said this was done without investigation, adding that his door was broken and the security staff of the company tied as the customs officials took away 704 bags of rice.
Julius told newsmen: “I have over ten trailers of the rice inside my warehouse that are purely Nigerian rice.
“Ask any producer of rice in Nigeria, Mount Olive Nigeria Ltd have been supporting them because I am the distributor of Nigerian rice in the whole South West and Nigeria Customs just came to frustrate me.
“I have 480 staff under me. I don’t know what they want from me. I pay my tax regularly. If they are saying I’m not doing my business in the orderly way, what is the orderly way they want me to follow?
“I have reported to the police. Customs men attacked my company unlawfully and that is why I’m protesting with all my staff for Nigerian government to come to my aid.
“They said I should come and see the ACG today and when I got to their office they said he was not around. Three of my staff were locked up and they collected N50,000 from me before they were released. One of my friends who also came was locked up.”
He called for the unconditional release of the bags of rice, adding,
“I have branches all over the country”.
He added, “ My company is in 23 locations across the country; they should come and investigate. We are ready to cooperate with whoever wants to come and investigate us.
“When I got to Olam farm in Nasarawa State in 2014, I was surprised with what I saw there and I resolved in my mind to support Nigerian rice because it will assist in tackling the issue of unemployment in the country.
“But here I am being frustrated by the men of Nigeria Customs. They should stop frustrating legitimate business owner like me.” .
Public Relations offcer of the Kwara Customs Command, Mr. S.S Okpo confirmed that some bags of rice were seized from a warehouse in Ilorin.
She however that investigation is being carried out on the seizure and the outcome made public.
Additional reports from Ships & Ports Online.
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