Edo Govt Finally Admits to Receiving Rice Aid from FG After Initial Denial

The Edo State Government has confirmed the receipt of 20 trucks of rice from the Federal Government, a move that comes after initial denials.

The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, made this announcement during a press conference in Benin City on August 8, 2024.

This confirmation follows a period of controversy and public outcry, particularly after youth looted a warehouse during an August 1 hunger protest, leading to accusations of hoarding.

Nehikhare clarified that the rice was part of the federal government’s palliatives aimed at cushioning economic hardship. He stated, "On the issue of federal government giving us rice a few months ago, they brought some truck-loads of rice and they were distributed according to the formula they set."

The rice was allocated to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, orphanages, local government areas, and other designated recipients. "Edo state government did not touch one of them. They were distributed the way it was designed to be given out," he added.

The initial denial by the Edo State Government had led to accusations from the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), which claimed that the bags of rice looted in Benin were part of the federal palliative measures that the state government had hoarded.

Amidst the controversy, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Abubakar Momoh, clarified that each state, including Edo, received 20 trucks of rice.

Nehikhare also addressed the broader context of the state's efforts to combat poverty, noting that since September, the state government had provided free bus services.

Additionally, he mentioned that the state had allocated N2.2 billion to the Christian Association of Nigeria to purchase food items such as garri, yam, plantain, and rice for distribution to vulnerable populations.