Press Release
#EndSARS: ANEEJ Condemns Hoarding of Covid-19 Palliatives, Calls for Probe

#EndSARS: ANEEJ Condemns Hoarding of Covid-19 Palliatives, Calls for Probe

BENIN CITY, NIGERIA. October 24, 2020…. Against the backdrop of the sudden discovery by residents of major cities in Nigeria that palliatives meant for the poor to cushion the impact of covid-19 lockdown between the months of March and May this year were stock-pilled in warehouses without getting to the poor, the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) has called on the Federal Government to launch a probe into the hoarding and bring erring persons to justice.

Executive Director of Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, Rev David Ugolor while making the call at a News briefing in Benin City today condemned hoarding of essential food stuffs meant for the poor in warehouses by various state governments, urging the Governors of affected states to explain the rational for the hoarding of such food stuffs that were clearly  labelled “Federal Government palliatives.”

“We are outraged that Covid-19 palliatives given to states for distribution to the poor by the federal government is still holed up in various warehouses but for the EndSARS protesters that are bursting these warehouses open to take the items, citizens would not have been aware of such developments.

“This is condemnable and we call on the Governors of Lagos, Kwara, Cross River, Ondo, Edo and Delta and others to explain why they chose to hoard the palliatives. The Governors have some explanations to make.” Ugolor said.

He called on the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development as well as CACOVID responsible for the distribution of these items  to immediately launch a nationwide probe into what happened in the distribution chain that ithas to take EndSARS protest for citizens to know that such items were lying wastes in the affected states.

“The rush by citizens to busted warehouses to cart away those foodstuffs and household items is indicative of the high level of poverty in the country and government need to rise up to take concrete steps as demanded by EndSARS protesters to end poverty in Nigeria,” Rev. Ugolor submitted.

“We are even concerned about the health status of the food items as, according to reports, some of the food items were already going bad with foul odour. Some of the items are reported to have been stored in unhygienic conditions thereby endangering the lives of poor citizens rushing for them,” Ugolor averred.

For further information, please contact 08187674339 or info@aneej.org and follow us on twitter, Instagram and facebook: @aneejnigria, @Latakpu, aneej__nigeria and facebook.com/aneejnigeria

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