CACOVID Rice: Osun takes delivery of 40,332 10kg bags, begins immediate distribution

Osun State Government has commenced the immediate distribution of the rice component of Private Sector Coalition Against Covid-19 (CACOVID) donated to the State.

The state Coordinator of CACOVID Monitoring and Evaluation Team, Mr Ademola Adebisi, who made this known, stated that the bags of rice was delivered to the state government officials at the State Secretariat, Abere.

The distribution followed the delivery of the much expected 40,332 of 10kg bags of rice component of CACOVID palliatives aimed at cushioning the adverse effects of the dreaded global Coronavirus pandemic.

This is just as the members of CACOVID monitoring and evaluation team commended the State government for adopting a strategic distribution process that captures every segment of the society.

Adebisi noted that the State government had distinguished itself and demonstrated high sense of transparency and accountability in its resolve to ensure that the food items get to the targeted beneficiaries across the State.

“I am extremely impressed with what I have seen here. I have spoken with the Commissioner in charge of this and I have seen some of the beneficiaries of this palliative items.

“I have looked through the way the palliatives are being distributed and I must confess that I am pleased with the template of the distribution which takes care of every vulnerable group in the State.

“I have seen the representatives of the local governments in the State, and as a matter of fact, the whole thing is going on smoothly as expected. We have also seen members of the informal sector; Muslim and Christian leaders; leadership of the Civil Society Organisations; vulnerable groups; members of the National Youths Council of Nigeria; community leaders, among others who have come to obtain the rice for their people.

“The onward distribution is highly impressive as they make sure that everybody is considered. So, I can say authoritatively that the distribution is going on well and everybody is involved”, he added.

Responding to the question that the State deliberately hoarded the looted CACOVID palliatives during the Endsars protest, Adebisi said Osun government acted in line with the CACOVID directive to wait for the flag-off of the distribution of the palliative items.

Adebisi who noted that no benefitting State has control over the distribution of the palliatives as at the time the first batch was supplied to the States, said it was unfortunate that the items were looted by miscreants and misinformed members of the public.

He vindicated the Osun government over the looting, just as he noted that the onward distribution of the rice component upon the delivery would go a long way to avert possible recurrence of the dastardly act occasioned by the Endsars protest.

Adebisi assured of CACOVID’s commitment to supporting Nigerians, particularly the vulnerable people with different life-supporting interventions, as the nation begins to experience the second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Commissioner for Commerce, Industries, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Dr. Bode Olaonipekun, said the State was determined to ensure adequate distribution of the rice across the State.

He said the State would follow to the letter the statistics of the vulnerable in the State which had been the guideline for meeting their critical needs.