Covid-19: Reactions as Oyo govt rejects 1800 bags of rice donated by FG (video)

Oyo state government on Friday announced that it has rejected 1800 bags of rice recently donated by Federal Government.

According to the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Muyiwa Jacob Ojekunle, “the rice is infected and unsuitable for human consumptions.”

Mouthpiece NGR recalls about 1800 bags of rice was donated on Tuesday by Nigeria Customs Service to Oyo and other neighboring states as part of COVID-19 relief materials. 

The alarm was raised shortly after the committee on distribution of relief materials and palliatives paid an inspection visit to the warehouse were the grains were kept. 

Speaking, the Executive Adviser to the governor on Agribusiness, Dr. Debo Akande explained that after taking delivery of the donated rice, a quality control inspection was carried out repeatedly and the donation has now been rejected.

Dr Akande noted that the donated rice would be returned to the Nigeria Customs Service with the hope that it would be replaced with good quality.

He further said the infested rice would not affect plans of the state government to commence distribution of palliatives to the people, adding that distribution would commence soonest. 

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Honourable Ojekunle Ojemuyiwa in his own remark, reiterated the position of state government, stressing that the wellbeing and healthy disposition of the people would not be compromised in the continuing fight to curtail further spread of the virus.

Meanwhile Nigerians have continued to react on social media following the development. Some people are criticizing Federal Government for distributing infected rice. While some are pointing accusing finger on Oyo government for playing politics. 

Below are the reactions;

Young money: Even Lagos and Ogun state with assured financial statement didn’t refuse the grains. No time for politics o

Damola from Ogbomosho: the federal government through Nigeria Customs service should have crossed checked those rice before distributing them to the state government to ascertain its edibility. 

Oluwaseun: You want to fight federal government, best of luck. 

Taofeeq: I learned the residents of Lagos refused and rejected the rice some days ago too. Those Governors you mentioned didn’t talk because they’re of the same party as the Presidency. If GSM had been in APC too, he might’ve shared it and leave the citizens to decide as those of Lagos did.

Seyi: who knows may be it’s Oyo state government that spoilt the rice just to score political point? 

Babarinde: They are seized rice from sellers about 2-3 years ago. 

John: Other’s states didn’t complain. How come it’s Oyo state? 

Juliet: is it all the 1800 bags of rice spoilt? I smell politics from Oyo state government. 

Confiscated items by Nigeria Customs Service won’t be properly kept for those two to three years because it’s meant to be destroyed. No budgetry provision for fumigation of those grains for proper storage like agro business people will do.
So, the quality assurance is zero.
I think the federal government should buy directly from Nigeria Association of Rice Farmers directly to distribute for the populace.