Food Poisoning: FG Delegation Visits Osun, Says Incident Misrepresented

Following the alleged food poisoning incident that involved more than 11 pupils of James Primary School, Owo Ope, Osogbo, a federal government delegation led by Senior Special Assistant to the President on School Feeding, Yetunde Adeniji, paid a scheduled visit to Osun State.

A statement released on Thursday by Olumobi John Adewale, Office of the School Feeding Programme, noted that the visit was a fact-finding one to get abreast with updates on the purported food poisoning on December 12 under the state government’s Home Grown School Feeding Programme.

Recall that the state government had directed the stoppage of food cooking at the affected school pending the outcome of the investigations while the victims were treated and discharged after receiving treatment from the hospital.

Also, the state government said the incident had nothing to do with the meal the affected pupils ate in the school that day.

Received by Adeleke and his deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi, the FG delegation stated that it discovered during their visit to the affected school that the purported incident was largely misrepresented.

While reiterating President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to the well-being of children in public schools, the presidential aide emphasised that Tinubu remained committed to school feeding programmes as part of his eight-point agenda.

“The team discovered during their visit to St James RCM Primary School in Owo-ope, Osogbo, that the purported incident was largely misrepresented,” the statement said.

Adeniji also warned, “The meals served in schools must be of very high standards. We urge schools to remain vigilant against sharp practices as they relate to the quality and hygiene of the meals served.

“The FG will be establishing a monitoring and evaluation unit to ensure continued commitment to the safety and success of school feeding programmes across the country. In the coming days, our office would ensure government policies are strictly adhered to across the federation to standardise school feeding programs in Nigeria, amongst other sweeping reforms.”