Edo State’s Rice Scandal: APC Alleges Hidden Aid and Mismanagement of Federal Funds

Edo State Faces Allegations of Aid Misuse and Financial Mismanagement

Kassim Afegbua, Media Director of the Edo APC Campaign Council, has raised serious concerns about the handling of aid in Edo State. Afegbua claims that bags of rice donated by Aliko Dangote were hidden in the homes of PDP members rather than being distributed to those in need. He also accuses the state government of concealing and repackaging federal palliatives.

In a recent interview with Arise TV, Afegbua detailed the significant financial support Edo State has received from the Federal Government since President Tinubu took office. This includes an increase in federal allocations, substantial derivative funds, and internally generated revenue. According to Afegbua, the total financial support ranges from 250 to 270 billion naira.

“Since Tinubu’s administration began, Edo has seen a substantial increase in federal funding,” Afegbua stated. “We’ve received 22.3 billion naira from derivative funds, 64.7 billion naira in internally generated revenue, and 181 billion naira from federal allocations. Additionally, 10 billion naira was allocated for security support. When you add all these figures together, it amounts to between 250 and 270 billion naira.”

Afegbua expressed disappointment that, despite this substantial funding, there seems to be little visible impact on the state’s development. He pointed to recent protests against bad governance as evidence of public dissatisfaction. During these protests, he claims the state government was found hiding federal palliatives, including Dangote’s rice, in PDP members’ homes instead of distributing them to those in need.

“This has been the tradition with palliatives in the state; they don’t reach the people who need them,” Afegbua added. “The hidden rice scandal is just one example of how aid is being mishandled.”

The allegations have sparked a debate about the effectiveness of resource management in Edo State and the transparency of aid distribution.