Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, on has called on the authorities of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to compensate the families of victims of a stampede in Lagos State last month. 

On February 23, 2024, some persons lost their lives in a stampede during the purchase of seized rice put on sale by the NCS in Lagos. Thousands of people turned up for the subsidized goods at the Customs’ Zonal Office on Harvey Road, Yaba, Lagos, with a 25kg bag of rice sold for 10,000 naira.

The tragic incident led to the immediate suspension of the food disposal initiative by the Customs.

Two weeks after the tragic incident, Falana flayed the NCS authorities for failing to compensate the families of the victims.

He also asked the NCS to lift the suspension of the distribution of the remaining bags of rice without any further delay.

According to Falana, the distribution should be carried out through the appropriate local government councils and local government development areas in Lagos State and other states to avoid another stampede.