Osun Spends N67m To Distribute 43 Trucks Of Garri, Corn

The Osun State Government has said it spent the sum of N67,422,000 to receive 43 trucks of food palliatives containing Garri and Corn from the Federal Government, OSUN DEFENDER gathered.

A statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, made available to the media, revealed that the state has paid N45,000,000, leaving a balance of N22,422,000.

According to Alimi, out of the 43 trucks expected, 4 are of 25 kg of Garri, 1,260 bags of 25 kg of Garri, and another 39 trucks of 50kg bags of Corn, containing 600 bags each.

OSUN DEFENDER learnt that the distribution of the food palliative, according to the government, took off on Tuesday, July 30.

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The statement reads partly: “Osun State Government has started the receipt of 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.

“Out of the total of 43 trucks being expected, 4 are Garri of 25kg with each of the trucks containing 1260 bags and another 39 trucks of 50Kg bag of Corn, containing 600 bags each.

“It is to be noted that, the Osun State Government is being charged the sum of #67,422,000,00 (Sixty Seven Million, Four Hundred and Twenty-Two Thousand Naira) by the F.G as haulage fee out of which, the State Government, has paid the sum 45,000,000,00 (FForty Five Million Naira) leaving it with a balance of 22,422,000 (Twenty-two Million, Four Hundred and Twenty-Two Thousand) to be offset before the delivery of the remaining consignments would be effected.

“This current food palliative, which consists of Garri and Corn was originated from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and being distributed by National Emergency Management Agency Office (NEMA), Abuja, and it’s being received by Osun State Government through the office the of Osun State Emergency Management Agency (OSEMA),

“However, for transparency, record, and accountability, the Officials of Nigeria Police, I. C.P.C. D.S.S and EFCC, and NEMA are readily on 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, 30th July 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.

“So far, as at Sunday, the 28th of July, 2024, 4 trucks of Garri of 25kg and 21 trucks of Corns of 50 kg have been received. While all 4 trucks of Garri and the 16 trucks of corns have been offloaded, the remaining 5 trucks of corn will be offloaded today as Osun State Government is still expecting 1 truck of corn today, Monday, the 29th July, 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.”