Osun State Government said on Monday that it has received the expected 43 trucks of food palliatives of Garri and Corn from the Federal Government of Nigeria as part of efforts to cushion the effects of hardships being currently experienced by Nigerians across the country.
It, however, hinted that the State Government is being charged the sum of $67,422,000,00 ( Sixty Seven Million, Four Hundred and twenty-two Two Thousand Naira) by the Federal Government as haulage fee, out of which the State government has paid the sum of $45,000,000,00 (Forty-Five Forty-Five Million Naira), leaving it with a balance of 22,422,000 (twenty-two Million, Four Hundred and twenty-two Two Thousand) to be offset before the delivery of the remaining consignments would be effected.
Hon. Commissioner For Information and Public Enlightenment in the State, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi who made these known in a statement in Osogbo, explained that, “Out of the total of 43 trucks being expected, 4 are Garri of 25 kg, with each of the trucks containing 1260 bags and another 39 trucks of 50Kg kg of Corn, containing 600 bags each.”
“However, for transparency, record and accountability, the Officials of Nigeria Police, I. C.P.C. D.S.S, EFCC and NEMA are readily on the ground to monitor the offloading and documentation of the consignments of the food palliatives.”
“Accordingly, the distribution of the food palliatives to the would-be beneficiaries throughout the State will commence tomorrow, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, and it is going to be carried out in line with an already-spelt-out template given by the FG, which is in concomitant with the one also already mapped out by the Osun State Government.”
“Osun State Government started receiving and offloading the trucks of the two edibles of Garri and corns on July 11, 2024, at OSEMA warehouse in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.”
“So far, as of Sunday, July 28, 2024, 4 trucks of Garri of 25 kg and 21 trucks of Corns of 50 kg have been received. While all 4 trucks of Garri and the 16 trucks of corn have been offloaded, the remaining 5 trucks of corn will be offloaded today as the Osun State Government is still expecting 1 truck of corn today, Monday, July 29, 2024”.
“In line with the agreement earlier reached with the FG, Osun State is also to offset the cost of both offloading and distribution of the food palliatives to the would-be beneficiaries in the various Local Governments in the State.”
“Consequently, the present administration in Osun State, under the leadership of His Excellency, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, with all sense of responsibility, is glad to announce that the formal distribution exercise will commence with immediate effect tomorrow, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, through a clean, clear, thorough and transparent process.”
“We wish to use this opportunity to assure the people of the State, especially the targeted most vulnerable population, of the readiness of Senator Ademola Adeleke’s Government to adhere strictly to an already laid down templates for the distribution by both the State and Federal Governments.”
“While we also count on the continued support and cooperation of the people of Osun State, we are equally using this medium to state that no one, especially the most targeted vulnerable population, will be shortchanged whatsoever during the distribution of the food items”.
He stressed that, “This current food palliative, which consists of Garri and Corn, originated from the office of the National Security Adviser ( NSA) and is being distributed by the National Emergency Management Agency Office (NEMA), Abuja, and it being received by Osun State Government through the office of the Osun State Emergency Management Agency (OSEMA),” he concluded.
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