The Katsina State Command of the Department of State Services (DSS) has uncovered a shocking case of rice diversion involving officials of the state government. The 20 trucks of rice donated by the Federal Government to cushion the effects of economic hardship in the country have been found to have been diverted.
According to sources, the DSS operatives discovered that 2,000 bags of rice out of the 20 trucks were stored in a warehouse at the Central Market in Katsina. The development has left many residents shocked and disappointed.
The Chairman of the Civil Society Organisations in the state, Abdulrahman Abdullahi, condemned the act, saying it was “unpatriotic” for government officials to divert relief meant for the vulnerable. He vowed that his organisation would follow up on the case until those responsible are brought to justice.
A resident of Katsina, Suleiman Kofar-Durbi, described the incident as “unfortunate” and called on the government to investigate the matter thoroughly and punish those involved. Another resident, Alhaji Shehu Usman, who is also the Chairman of the Market Traders Association, revealed that someone had stored the rice in a warehouse without being a trader.
The Principal Private Secretary to Governor Dikko Radda, Aliyu Abdullahi, provided some clarification on the matter, stating that the rice was allocated to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, by the Federal Government. The minister had directed his Special Adviser on Infrastructure Development, Alhaji Nasiru Lawal, to keep the rice in a safe location, and he decided to store it at a market warehouse.
The recovered 2,000 bags of rice have been taken back from the warehouse and returned to its original destination. The incident has raised concerns about accountability and transparency in government transactions.
Join our Channel...