Kano Uncovers N1. 3bn Worth of Stolen Palliatives Rice in Warehouse

The Kano state government has uncovered a warehouse containing a staggering 16,800 bags of rice released last year as part of palliatives for last year's Ramadan kareem'.

The Kano Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission, PCACC, which made the discovery, disclosed that the bags of rice, worth about N1. 3bn, were found in a warehouse, along Hotoro Ring road, by the Farin Masallaci, Nasarawa council area of the state, where they were being rebagged under different brands for sale at the Kano open market.

They are said to be the content of 28 trucks offloaded into the warehouse.PCACC Chairman, Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, who made the disclosure in a statement, noted that the discovery is the result of a painstaking investigation conducted by the agency to unravel the activities of individuals and groups taking advantage of government intervention to make quick personal gains.

“This is in respect of investigation on allegation activities that there are people taking advantage of government intervention by rebagging the rice meant for palliative. They are rebagging and repackaging rice meant for the public.

“This is a clear form of corruption and considering the hardship we are experiencing in the country, somebody has the effrontery to come here and start repackaging and rebagging it. Look at it, they are in the process, we have seen it and we are taking appropriate measures now. According to the head of the agency, the rebaghing machine has been recovered while one suspect is already in custody.

“Investigation will be conducted thoroughly with all vigour to uncover all those behind it. Now we have only one arrest and we will make sure that we uncover those behind it. We will take all legal actions to forestall all these kinds of activities.

“There are 28 trucks and if you multiply by 600 bags each, then the actual amount is huge. A bag today is 82,000 which is about N1. 3bn,” he told newsmen.