The Kogi State Government has denied claims that rice palliatives distributed to citizens were being rebagged and sold in markets.
In a statement, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon Timothy Ojomah, described the allegations as “completely false” and “misleading”.
According to the government, the rice palliatives were clearly branded and marked as “Not for Sale” to prevent diversion.
Monitoring teams were also put in place to ensure proper distribution to intended beneficiaries, according to Independent.
Investigations conducted by the government found no evidence to support the claims, and numerous beneficiaries have come forward to attest to receiving the palliatives and expressed gratitude to the government.
The government believes the false claims are aimed at discrediting its efforts to support citizens.
It urged citizens to be cautious of misinformation and verify information through credible sources.
The government assured the public that it has zero tolerance for any form of diversion of public facilities, especially those meant for the indigent and downtrodden.
