The Oyo state government discloses that the rice it received from President Muhammadu Buhari-led government as palliative to cushion the effect of the coronavirus lockdown orders, is infested with weevils and is good for human consumption.
However, in the early of April, the Nigeria President ordered that the 150 trucks of rice seized by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), from smugglers, to be distributed to the 36 states of the federation.
Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, had stated that the move was one of the fiscal stimulus measures directed by the president as response to the coronavirus pandemic disease sweeping the country and the collapse in the price of crude oil.
However, Ahmed stater that the seized trucks of rice had been handed over to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management for onward distribution to Nigerians.
“Weevil-infested rice”
Well, the Oyo State Govt now reveals that its share of the rice, totaling 1,800 bags, is not good for human consumption.
“We received these items from the federal government via the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and we brought them to the warehouse and it was in the process of further inspection that we discovered that almost all the rice has been infested with weevils and some other materials, and on that basis, we formed a committee to re-inspect it so that we can definitely be sure of what we have received,” disclosed by Debo Akande, the Executive Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on Agribusiness, as stated by The Nation.
“We think this is not definitely in the position of consumption for human beings at this point in time, and as such, the materials cannot be distributed as part of palliatives within the state.
“We don’t want to start providing solution to a problem and then start creating another problem.
“We have inspected it and done a random selection and we have seen that similar things apply across board,” he added.
Back to sender
Thus, Executive Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde disclosed that the rice will be returned to the federal government.
“We have been instructed and we are following the instructions of the committee as was agreed upon. You will find here with me almost all the commissioners in the committee that are applicable.
“We have agreed to return all these to the source, and if there is any replacement of good quality that could be sent to us, we will be glad enough to receive it.”
Furthermore, the government officials in Oyo state who were given the ”damaged goods” from the Federal government were Akande, Mr Seun Fakorede (Youth and Sports), Mrs Faosat Sanni (Women Affairs and Social Inclusion), Chief Bayo Lawal (Special Duties), Mrs Funmilayo Orisadeyi (Local Government, Commissioners Ojemuyiwa Ojekunle (Agric), and Chieftaincy Matters).
At the time of filing this report by Dickson blog, Nigeria has recorded 1095 coronavirus cases, with 208 recoveries and 32 deaths.
Oyo state government has confirmed 18 cases.
Well, coronavirus cases globally have crossed 2.7 million, with 189,970 deaths, according to a recent Reuters tally.
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