By Few days after attesting to the good conditions of palliatives received from the Federal Government, the Oyo State Government on Friday made a u-turn, saying the items were in bad conditions.
Three trailer loads of rice totaling 1,800 bags sent to the state are allegedly infested with weevil and unfit for human consumption. Blackboxnigeria gathered.
Governor Makinde, while registering his dissatisfaction with the state of the palliatives, said he expects a better replacement.
The team, who earlier received the items include the ; Executive Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on Agricbusiness, Dr Debo Akande; Commissioners Ojemuyiwa Ojekunle (Agric), Chief Bayo Lawal (Special Duties), Mr Seun Fakorede (Youth and Sports), Mrs Faosat Sanni (Women Affairs and Social Inclusion) and Mrs Funmilayo Orisadeyi (Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters).
According to Dr Akande, only the 1,800 bags of rice received from the Federal Government was infested after a random testing, inspection and re-inspection were conducted on them.
He however assured that, the situation will by no means alter the plan of the state government to give palliatives to the people of the state, assuring that all the other items are in good conditions and in safe custody.
Dr Akande said: “We received these items from the Federal Government via the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and we brought them to the warehouse for inspection when we discovered that almost the entire rice has been infested with weevils, on that basis, we formed a committee to re-inspect it so that we can be definitely sure of what we have received.
“We think this is not definitely in the position of consumption for human 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 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.” Dr Akande said.
