Ondo Govt. Makes U-turn, Says It Won’t Return ‘Spoilt’ Rice To FG

The Ondo State Government has reversed its earlier plan to return ‘spoilt’ bags of rice to the Federal Government.

Odunews.com reports that the state complained that some of the received bags of rice had expired and planned to return them on the order of the state Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.

Speaking on the development, Akeredolu’s Special Adviser on Public and Inter-Governmental Relations, Mrs Olubunmi Ademosu, said there was no plan to return the rice and other food items sent to the state by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management.

She said, “The state government commended the gesture by the Federal Government towards cushioning the effect of the lockdown on residents of the country. It behooves on us to appreciate the gesture rather than condemning it.

“We must not create another problem while finding a solution to one, we have tested the rice, checked the expiry date and I can confirm to you that the rice is of good quality and good for consumption.”

The state had received 1800 bags of rice in three trailers alongside 700 gallons of vegetable oil last week from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management as part of the measures to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown in the state.