Yanju Uwala
– Says the claims was annoying and appalling
The Nigerian Custom Services (NIS), Oyo/Osun Area Command on Saturday, had reacted to the claims of the Oyo State government that the 1,800 bags of rice distributed to the State as palliatives by the Federal Government have been infested and unfit for human consumption.
Reports had it that the Public Relations Officer of the Oyo/Osun Area Command of the customs services, Abdullahi Lagos, said the claim by the Oyo State Government was annoying and appalling.
“The Executive Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on Agribusiness, Dr Debo Akande, together with the Special Adviser to the governor on security, Fatai Owoseni had earlier came to our office to check the rice before it evacuated from our warehouse’’, he said.
“We were shocked to hear that the rice were not good for consumption, these rice are not expired rice, how can we now release expired rice for the public? this is very annoying”, the PRO stressed.
“Oyo/Osun command has two warehouse, so the government representatives were the one that even choose the rice they want, Oyo State was the first to evacuate their rice before other states came to took their own”, he added
However, further reports had it that the Oyo/Osun Area Command noted that although it is possible that a little number of the bags of rice might have an issue, saying that that does not means that all the bags of rice were not good for consumption.
The customs imagemaker, also said that efforts are ongoing to ease the tension of the people of the State, saying that the customs are still going to react accordingly.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Government which took delivery of the rice donated through the Nigeria Customs Services on Monday, said it has concluded plans to return the 1,800 bags of rice distributed to the state, claiming that almost all the rice has been infested with weevil and other materials.
