Oyo state government is set to return 1800 bags of rice donated as palliatives by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management over weevil infestation.
This was made known by Dr. Debo Akande, Executive Assistant to the state governor, Seyi Makinde, on Agribusiness.
Sadiya Umar Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs had given 1800 bags of rice to Oyo state on April 20 as palliatives meant to cushion the damning effects of the lockdown order.
However, Mr. Akande explained that the rice was not suitable for consumption after an inspection committee discovered the bags of grains had been heavily infested with weevils.
“We received these items from the Federal Government via the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and we brought them to the warehouse. It was in the process of further inspection that we discovered that the rice had been infested with weevils.
“On that basis, we formed a committee to re-inspect it so we can be sure of what we have received. We don’t want to create another problem while providing solution to another one. We have inspected it; we have done random selection and we have seen that similar things apply across the board.
“We have agreed to return them to the source but if there are good ones with good quality that could be sent to us as replacement, we will be glad to receive them.”
ALSO READ: COVID-19 Palliatives: Names of Beneficiaries are fake – Sen Ndume accuses Minister Sadiya of Fraud
It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the release of 150 trucks of rice that were seized from smugglers by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to vulnerable Nigerians during the COVID-19 Pandemic.