COVID-19 PALLIATIVE: Osun Govt Begins Investigation, Hunts For Source Of Adulterated Rice

The supplier of over 6,000 bags of rice distributed by the Osun State Government as palliatives to cushion the effect of the lockdown on people of the State may be call to explain the adulterated rice in circulation as the State Government commenced an investigation into the matter, OSUNREPORTERS NEWS gathered.

This was disclosed in a statement made by the State Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs Funke Egbemode, on Friday in Osogbo, the State Capital, stressing that the government had received complaints that some of the distributed bags of rice may not have met the expected quality to be distributed to Osun residents.

According to Information Commissioner: “The State of Osun, under the leadership of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, is particularly pained by this development, considering the fact that it has never compromised quality in its provision of economic stimulus for the people of Osun in spite of its limited resources.

“The State Government of Osun, under the leadership of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, is a very responsible and responsive government that places premium on the well-being of its people and would not do anything to jeopardize its citizens’ health. Upon receipt of the complaints, the State Government has immediately begun investigations to establish the source of the few bags that appear not to have met the quality expected.”

Egbemode disclosed that the State government had invited all suppliers and vendors from whom the relief materials were purchased, for questioning  in order to dentify the source of the problem.

She added, “We assure our citizens that upon unraveling what went wrong , the State Government will take necessary punitive measures against the erring Supplier(s) or Vendor(s), including de-listing such vendor from the Government’s directory and even proclaiming  a disclaimer to that effect.”

The statement also revealed that all the over 6000 bags of rice were purchased from dealers in Osun, which she said was part of government’s  efforts to empower its people and also stimulate the local economy.

“If the over 6,020 bags were gotten from Lagos or Abuja, we would have denied our market traders the opportunity to supply and to compensate them for the lockdown,” Egbemode added.

She stressed that the State government is committed toward protecting its citizens from potential and actual threats, adding that the “development would not deter the State from dedicatedly seeking to improve the welfare of the people of Osun, especially the vulnerable group, during the time of lockdown in the state.