The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has rejected the 1,800 bags of rice returned by the Oyo state government on Wednesday.
POLITICS NIGERIA learned that operatives of the NCS zonal headquarters in Ibadan turned back officials of the state government at the main gate of the command.
It was gathered that the officials were not allowed to return the bags of rice because the command had not received any directive to receive the rejected food items.
Reacting to the development, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Jacob Ojemuyiwa, said the state had written a letter to the service indicating that the bags of the weevil-infested rice would be returned.
He said the state was, however, surprised at the action of the customs officials, adding that he would report back to the State Executive Council for necessary action.
This newspaper had reported that President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered Customs to give 1,800 bags to Oyo state to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on residents of the state.
However, the Special Adviser to governor Makinde on Agro Business, Debo Akande, said state health inspectors found out upon inspection that the bags of rice were infested with weevils.
