Osun to begin distribution of food palliatives

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

The Osun State Government has announced it would commence on Tuesday, the distribution of 43 trucks of food palliatives, including garri and corn, received from the Federal Government to mitigate the hardships currently faced by Nigerians.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, it was disclosed that the Federal Government had charged the State Government a total of ₦67,422,000.00 as haulage fee for transporting the 43 trucks.

According to the statement, of the 43 trucks, four are loaded with 25kg bags of garri, with each truck carrying 1,260 bags. The remaining 39 trucks are loaded with 50kg bags of corn, with each truck containing 600 bags.

It added that the State Government has already paid ₦45,000,000.00, leaving a balance of ₦22,422,000.00 to be settled before the remaining consignments can be delivered.

“The distribution of these food palliatives, consisting of garri and corn, originates from the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and is being distributed by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Abuja. The Osun State Government is receiving the palliatives through the Osun State Emergency Management Agency (OSEMA),” it read.

The Commissioner also disclosed that, to ensure transparency and accountability, officials from the Nigeria Police, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Department of State Services (DSS), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and NEMA are present to monitor the offloading and documentation of the consignments.

Alimi announced that the distribution to beneficiaries across the State will commence on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, following a template provided by the Federal Government and one mapped out by the Osun State Government.

“Osun State Government started receiving and offloading the trucks of garri and corn from Thursday, July 11, 2024, at the OSEMA warehouse in Osogbo, the Osun State capital,” Alimi said.

“As of Sunday, July 28, 2024, four trucks of 25kg garri and 21 trucks of 50kg corn have been received. While all four trucks of garri and 16 trucks of corn have been offloaded, the remaining five trucks of corn will be offloaded today, Monday, July 29, 2024.”

“In accordance with the agreement with the Federal Government, Osun State is also responsible for the cost of both offloading and distributing the food palliatives to beneficiaries in various local governments in the State,” he concluded.

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