The Kano State Government has dismissed as “mischievous” reports insinuating that food items donated to the state under the Federal Government palliative on COVID-19 had been destroyed.

Malam Muhammad Garba, the state’s Commissioner for Commissioner, Information, Youths, and Culture, in a statement on Tuesday in Kano, dismissed the report as “roguish” peddled by disgruntled elements.

The reports alleged that the grains were destroyed due to a lack of storage facilities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the federal government had supplied over 100 trucks of grains, including millet, maize, rice, and sorghum for distribution to the poor to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown.

However, speculations alleged that the grains kept in the open at the Kano State Agricultural Supply Company (KASCO), ere damaged by rain in the past few days.

Reacting to the rumor, Garba said that the state government had made proper arrangements to preserve the grain.

He noted that even before the food items were supplied, Kano had recorded its first rainfall, adding that proper arrangements were made to preserve it.

“I, therefore, urge the public to disregard the roguish which is being peddled by some disgruntled elements to discredit the effort of the government at all cost.

“We took into consideration the rainy season which has already set in and adopted measures to protect the grains from being destroyed by the prevailing hot weather occasioned by the scorching sun or rain by keeping them under the waterproof tarpaulin,’’ he said.

Garba explained that the food items were in the custody of the State Fundraising Committee on COVID-19, which was finalizing arrangements to begin distribution to the poor families in the state.

“We completed the first phase of the distribution of palliatives donated by corporate organizations and individuals to the deserving households in the 484 political wards in the 44 local government areas of the state.

“As soon as we are done with the arrangement, the second phase of distribution of food items sent by the federal government will commence,” he added.

The commissioner, however, commended the people of the state for their support and understanding in the prevailing challenges posed by the global pandemic