The Abia State Government has stated that it has not received any of the 20 trucks of rice purportedly sent as palliatives from the Federal Government.
Prince Okey Kanu, the State Commissioner for Information, confirmed that no such palliatives have arrived in the state and that there has been no communication from the Federal Government regarding such aid.
He dismissed as false reports claiming that the Federal Government distributed 50kg bags of rice to states for sale at N40,000 each.
“We have not received any trucks of rice from the Federal Government, and the claim that a 50kg bag of rice is being sold for N40,000 is fake news,” he said.
Kanu added that the state does not engage with rumors or speculations, and noted that the federal government has a standard communication process for such matters, which has not been followed in this case.
When asked whether it would be beneficial for the state government to seek clarification from the federal government, he responded that it was unnecessary. “There is no need to waste time verifying such news. If it were true, we would have received an official communication from the federal government. No such message has been received!”
Regarding the state government’s efforts to mitigate economic hardship for residents, Kanu emphasized that the state focuses on providing both direct aid and long-term solutions, promoting self-sufficiency alongside distributing palliatives.
