PRESS STATEMENT

The attention of the Oyo/Osun Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has been drawn to some mischievous and deliberate falsehood being circulated in the media for reasons best known to their author(s) concerning the Federal Government’s palliative given to Oyo State among other states.

As a responsible agency of Government whose functions include ensuring that nothing that could compromise the security, economy and general being of Nigerians are allowed into the Country, we cannot turn round and be associated with giving anything that will negatively affect our people. We therefore wish to state as follows:

That in line with the Federal Government’s effort to cushion the hardship in the nation, the CGC had directed the distribution of relief items including bags of rice across the nation through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management as palliative to the vulnerable in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.
As instructed, on the 20th of April 2020, the Oyo/Osun Area Command received high ranking members of the Oyo State Government in the persons of the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Jacob Ojekunle; the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Saidat Bolatumi Oloko; Executive Adviser to the Governor on Agribusiness, Mr Debo Akande; The representative of Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management and Social Development in Oyo, Mrs MO Lasisi and other members. They visited the command twice on the same day to inspect the bags of rice that were available for allocation.

The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller, HU Ngozi led them to the warehouses where they inspected the bags of rice, checked expiration dates and expressed satisfaction and readiness to evacuate their allocation.

Before leaving the command on their second visit, they pleaded to be given those from a section of one of the warehouses they considered "fresher" and this was granted.
Subsequently, on the 21st of April 2020, the Oyo State Government team came with their vehicles under the supervision of Mr Jacob Ojekunle, Mrs Saidat Oloko, Mrs MO Lasisi and other top officials, in the presence of the Customs Area Controller, other officers and members of the press to witness the loading and exiting of the 1800 bags of parboiled rice allocated to their State as palliative to the vulnerable.

Incidentally, in the process of loading, few bags fell at different times and burst open in the presence of Mr Ojekunle and Mrs Lasisi and there was no time that any of the burst bags of rice had weevils in them. The warehouse had no signs of weevils, neither were there signs of weevils on the loaders or on the trucks under the scorching sun.
The three (3) states; Oyo, Osun and Ekiti States took delivery of the bags of rice allocated to them, returned their landing certificates to show delivery to its final destinations. They also showed appreciation to the CGC for his magnanimity. Contrary to allegations by Oyo State Government, Osun and Ekiti States have not complained about their allocations.
The Command is therefore surprised, even embarrassed to hear three (3) days later, that the rice allocated to them were infested with weevils and unfit for human consumption.

The command wishes to reiterate that weevils do not hide and in the process of loading the vehicles, traces of weevils would have been noticed on the floor, on the bags, on the loaders or on the trucks bearing in mind that the entire process was in the presence of the CAC, Oyo State Government’s high ranking team and men of the press with full video camera coverage.

The Command is also aware that for whatever reason, some pictures of bad rice have been circulating the social media. We disassociate ourselves from such false images and we suspect foul play on the part of the handlers of these allocated 1,800 bags of rice. The State Government may wish to dig deeper.
It is surprising how bags of rice that exited the Command HQ in good condition suddenly became so bad after 3 days as being circulated in the social media.

E-signed
ABDULLAHI-
LAGOS ABIOLA PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER OYO/OSUN AREA COMMAND 25TH APRIL 2020

Nothing wey these people no go deny.

Who's now lying

Stop lying.. You guys have swapped the rice seized recently with old ones..

Rice was given to all the 36 states and FCT. All other states collected the rice and shared to their people except Oyo State that decided to play crass politics with her share.

Scope

LivingSage:

PRESS STATEMENT



The three (3) states; Oyo, Osun and Ekiti States took delivery of the bags of rice allocated to them, returned their landing certificates to show delivery to its final destinations.

They also showed appreciation to the CGC for his magnanimity. Contrary to allegations by Oyo State Government, Osun and Ekiti States have not complained about their allocations.

The Command is therefore surprised, even embarrassed to hear three (3) days later, that the rice allocated to them were infested with weevils and unfit for human consumption.

The Ondo State Government has rejected expired bags of rice from the 1 , 800 bags sent to the state by the Federal Government .

The FG sent about 1 , 800 bags of rice and vegetable oil to the state as part of measures to cushion the effect of the COVID - 19 lockdown in the country.

The state Governor , Mr Rotimi Akeredolu , has ordered the return of some bags of rice sent to the state by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management as they were found to have expired.

seunmsg:
Rice was given to all the 36 states and FCT. All other states collected the rice and shared to their people except Oyo State that decided to play crass politics with her share.

Seun is Ondo State also playing politics?

Quote: SOME BAGS. Let the events keep unfolding. arm crossed

Maxymilliano:


The Ondo State Government has rejected expired bags of rice from the 1 , 800 bags sent to the state by the Federal Government .

The FG sent about 1 , 800 bags of rice and vegetable oil to the state as part of measures to cushion the effect of the COVID - 19 lockdown in the country.

The state Governor , Mr Rotimi Akeredolu , has ordered the return of some bags of rice sent to the state by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management as they were found to have expired.

The Custom received several delegates of Oyo State Government to inspect the the rice before dispatch.

Why can't NCS visit the Oyo State government to ascertain what happened.

Before leaving the command on their second visit, they pleaded to be given those from a section of one of the warehouses they considered "fresher" and this was granted.

That suggests there are portions considered bad by the officials even at the warehouse

seunmsg:
Rice was given to all the 36 states and FCT. All other states collected the rice and shared to their people except Oyo State that decided to play crass politics with her share.

Lolz apc Zombie feeling funky.. U think we do not know thats its because of ur political affiliation that u readily accept this explanation from d customs??

seunmsg:
Rice was given to all the 36 states and FCT. All other states collected the rice and shared to their people except Oyo State that decided to play crass politics with her share.

So you haven't heard of Ondo and FCT ba? Put ur ears for ground well.

Praxtech:

Seun is Ondo State also playing politics?

Provide a credible link to show that Ondo State government rejected the rice.

Praxtech:

Seun is Ondo State also playing politics?

Lolz abeg leave that fustrated Zombie... Infact he will not answer u sef

Yoruba ironu oooooo

This implies that the FG rice was exchanged with weevil infested rice on the way. seems like S/western leaders wants to kill their own people with bad food.

seunmsg:


Provide a credible link to show that Ondo State government rejected the rice.

Search for it yourself or play call to the Ondo State government House Alagbaka. You have access.

Are the fed govt and customs trying to punish Nigerians for complaining too much?

APC govt and cluelessness are like 5&6

Osun Rice is even worse. The Governor just maintain silence because he's APC.
The rice is very dark and unfit for consumption.

May God help us in this country.

Jst see how these fools are playimg politics with human lives. Wen other reasonable countries are sending direct pallitiative to their citizen. This government is even sharing rice seized from business men and women claiming the rice will nt promote local production now why didn't federal government buy frm local farmers to feed the masses than resorting to the one they av claimed not to be good? This country is always so annoying.

Bethel4Life:
Lolz abeg leave that fustrated Zombie... Infact he will not answer u sef

You know me so we in real life to conclude that I’m a frustrated person? Really?

I can’t remember ever having any heated argument with this handle over any topic and you just popped out from nowhere to insult me over my comment that has nothing to do with you. Is that how you were brought up to insult people for no reason? Are you sure you’re okay?

Why did I read this nonsense?

helinues:
Stop lying.. You guys have swapped the rice seized recently with old ones..

Ok you know the game, very heartless people. They use to swap with the rice dealers every weekend for spoilt rice, clothes or any spoilt contraband while cashing out and submit to their respective commands

seunmsg:
Rice was given to all the 36 states and FCT. All other states collected the rice and shared to their people except Oyo State that decided to play crass politics with her share.

same expired rice sent to Ondo State

https://www.nairaland.com/5819161/ondo-rejects-expired-fgs-palliative

seunmsg:


Provide a credible link to show that Ondo State government rejected the rice.

here's the link, everything is not politics let's be sincere with ourselves for once


https://www.nairaland.com/5819161/ondo-rejects-expired-fgs-palliative

Mastadestiny:
Osun Rice is even worse. The Governor just maintain silence because he's APC.
The rice is very dark and unfit for consumption.

May God help us in this country.

you are right. the 5 tin of rice given to my mum in osun state ended inside the dustbin. osun state government just kept quiet.