Oyo state government on Friday announced that it has rejected 1800 bags of rice recently donated by Federal Government.

According to the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Muyiwa Jacob Ojekunle, “the rice is infected and unsuitable for human consumptions.”

Mouthpiece NGR recalls about 1800 bags of rice was donated on Tuesday by Nigeria Customs Service to Oyo and other neighboring states as part of COVID-19 relief materials.


The alarm was raised shortly after the committee on distribution of relief materials and palliatives paid an inspection visit to the warehouse were the grains were kept.

Speaking, the Executive Adviser to the governor on Agribusiness, Dr. Debo Akande explained that after taking delivery of the donated rice, a quality control inspection was carried out repeatedly and the donation has now been rejected.

Dr Akande noted that the donated rice would be returned to the Nigeria Customs Service with the hope that it would be replaced with good quality.

He further said the infested rice would not affect plans of the state government to commence distribution of palliatives to the people, adding that distribution would commence soonest.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Honourable Ojekunle Ojemuyiwa in his own remark, reiterated the position of state government, stressing that the wellbeing and healthy disposition of the people would not be compromised in the continuing fight to curtail further spread of the virus.

Meanwhile Nigerians have continued to react on social media following the development. Some people are criticizing Federal Government for distributing infected rice. While some are pointing accusing finger on Oyo government for playing politics.