By Ayodele Oni
To avoid Delta state experience where warehouses housing palliatives materials were looted,
Ondo State Government has beefed up adequate security around its warehouses to ensure protection.
Government explained on Thursday that materials released by the federal government and additional ones by the state are intact and that distribution will soon start.
Ondo Commissioner for Finance and Chairman, Palliative Strategy and Implementation Committee, Mr. Wale Akinterinwa, spoke when he led other members of the committee to inspect the food items and agricultural inputs.
Akinterinwa said the state has received N2bn out of the N5bn the federal government disbursed to the states.
According to him, the state has received 5700 bags of rice from the federal government, but would be distributing about 12000 bags of rice altogether, saying all them them are being kept intact.
The Finance Commissioner said a special Committee has been set up made up of all spectrum of the society to ensure that all those that are entitled benefit and avoid the distribution becoming a political party affair.
“We are here to inspect foodstuff that we intend to give to the vulnerable masses. We have gone round warehouses to ensure the food stuff are in good condition. We will share them very soon.
“The Federal Government gave us 5700 bags of rice. The state has bought more than that. We will start sharing very soon.
“We put together a committee at the local government level. We have good representation that cuts across the spectrum of the society.
“We have gotten N2bn and we hoped that they will give us the balance. They sent maize to us, but we received little amount of maize and we hoped to get the balance.
“The distribution will not be a party affair. That is why we put up the committee. We have the CAN and Muslim representatives.
“We will be distributing about 12000 bags of rice. We are also giving out packaged food items besides the rice. The packaged foods consist of four different local food items.
“The inputs for farmers are ready. We have power tillers, pesticides, tricycles to help move farm harvests to cities. We hope it will tackle food crisis and bring down prices if the yields are good. We have supported the farmers to get certain things they need.”
