Osun govt receives FG’s food palliatives, begins distribution

The Osun State Government has announced that it has received the 43 trucks of food palliatives, containing garri and corn provided by the Federal Government.

Kolapo Alimi, Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday, said the support was part of the Federal Government effort to alleviate the economic hardship being faced by Nigerians across the Country.

He said out of the 43 trucks expected, four were loaded with 25kg bags of garri with each truck containing 1,260 bags. The remaining 39 trucks carried 50kg bags of corn with each truck holding 600 bags.

Alimi stated that the State Government was being charged a total of ₦67,422,000.00 by the Federal Government as a haulage fee for the transportation of the 43 trucks of food palliatives, adding that out of the amount, the State Government had paid ₦45,000,000.00, leaving a remaining balance of ₦22,422,000.00 to be settled before the delivery of the remaining consignments could be completed.

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He stated that the distribution of the current food palliatives, consisting of garri and corn, originated from the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and was being distributed by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Abuja while the Osun State Government had received the palliatives through the Osun State Emergency Management Agency (OSEMA).

He noted that for transparency, record and accountability, officials of Nigeria Police, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, C.P.C. Department of State Services (DSS), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and NEMA were on ground to monitor the offloading and documentation of the consignments of the food palliatives.

Alimi said, the distribution of the food palliatives to the would-be beneficiaries throughout the State commenced Tuesday, 30th July, 2024 and were carried out in line with an already spelt-out template given by the Federal Government which was in concomitant with the one also already mapped out by the Osun State Government.