Governor’s aide arrested by DSS operatives allegedly for diverting Federal rice palliative
The Department of State Security Services (DSS) has arrested Governor Dikko Radda’s Special Adviser on Infrastructure, Alhaji Nasir Lawal, alongside some state government officials and traders involved in the diversion of the federal government’s rice palliative meant for vulnerable persons in Katsina State.
Earlier, the DSS officials had impounded 2,000 bags of rice stocked in stores at the Central Market in Katsina.
The consignment was traced to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Alhaji Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, while other officials were being interrogated by the DSS over the source of the other 800 bags.
The bags of rice were impounded following a tip-off by some good Samaritans who had noticed the strange movement of trucks that were offloading bags of grains at the wee hours of the night.
The distribution list made available to newsmen by a competent source shows that the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Alhaji Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, was given 1,200 bags to distribute to less privileged persons.
Meanwhile, the Principal Private Secretary of Governor Dikko Radda explained that the minister had entrusted the bags to his aides, who kept them at the warehouse “for safekeeping.”.
Similarly, the Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS) received 6,000 bags on behalf of its members, which have also not been distributed to the intended beneficiaries.
When contacted, the public relations officer of the group said he was not aware of the allocation but referred newsmen to other officials of the body for confirmation.
CSOs, residents, and others express concern over the scandal, delay, etc.
Meanwhile, civil society organisations, vulnerable persons, and other residents of the state have expressed worry over scandals and delays in the distribution of food assistance.
