N1 Billion Rice Palliatives Meant for Poor Nigerians Repackaged for Sale

Kano Agency Uncovers Large-Scale Diversion of Rice Palliatives

“For now, we have arrested one and we will make sure we uncover those behind it and forestall...”

Kano anti-graft agency seizes warehouse containing N1 billion worth of diverted rice palliatives meant for the poor.

The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Agency (PCACC) has made a significant move by shutting down a warehouse in Kano state. The warehouse, located at Ring Road in Nasarawa Local Government Area, was found to contain 16,600 bags of rice valued at over N1 billion.

These bags of rice were meant for the federal government's palliative distribution, but were instead being repackaged for sale. The rice had been distributed during last year's Ramadan and was marked with the label 'Not for Sale' and a picture of President Bola Tinubu.

The executive chairman of the PCACC, Muhuyi Rimin-Gado, led the team that discovered the warehouse and announced the findings via a statement on Tuesday, November 26, 2024.

Rimin-Gado revealed that the seized warehouse contained 28 truckloads of rice, which had been diverted and re-bagged by individuals for sale across various markets in the state. The rice had been repackaged into different brands, indicating a large-scale scam.

One person has been arrested in connection with the incident, and an investigation is underway to identify those responsible for the scam. Rimin-Gado emphasized that diverting such commodities is illegal and corrupt, and the anti-graft agency will not tolerate such actions.

He said, “In a nutshell, this is a clear form of corruption because this is a property meant for the public.

“Considering the hardship we have today, somebody has the liver to come and start re-bagging it.”

Adding that, “We recovered a re-bagging machine for repacking and re-bagging rice meant for the public.

“So, we are here based on investigative activities. We are armed with our search warrant, arrest warrant and court order.

“Thorough investigation will continue to uncover those behind it.

“For now, we have arrested one and we will make sure we uncover those behind it and forestall these kinds of activities.”

He emphasized that their actions were legally backed by a court order, and he assured that they would follow all necessary legal procedures to address the situation.