Politics

NLC orders FG to release all covid-19 welfare materials

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has ordered the Federal Government of Nigeria to immediately release all welfare materials provided to cushion the effect of Covid-19 in the country.

The NLC made the demand in a statement signed and issued on Monday by its President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba in Abuja, who said that the directive also applies to state governments which it accused of being chief culprits in hoarding of the palliatives.

Wabba also added that government officials cannot afford to create a scenario that precipitates mass unrests within this delicate and fragile milieu in global history.

The statement by the NLC reads thus in full; “The Nigeria Labour Congress has followed with keen concern the unfolding incidents across the country of mass storming and looting of relief welfare materials and provisions stored away in different warehouses.

“These relief palliatives and provisions are believed to have been procured by government to relieve citizens of the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown and the associated hardship.

“It is obvious that the palliative provisions that were procured by government for immediate distribution to the mass of our people at their critical time of need and to assuage the hardship occasioned by the lockdown were hoarded and held back by some government officials.

“The reasons for this have not been made known to the public. We also understand that many of the palliative provisions are already getting rotten in the warehouses where they were stored.

“While we condemn the ensuing mass looting of both the Covid-19 palliatives and non-Covid-19 palliative materials, we equally deplore the conduct of some government officials who stored away relief materials that should have been distributed to the masses of our people at their very trying times of need.

“We call on the Federal Government to investigate the conduct of those who hoarded the palliative provisions.

“In order to forestall riotous plundering of the remaining relief palliatives, the Nigeria Labour Congress demands that the Federal Government should order the immediate release of all the welfare provisions and materials to citizens.

“As we had demanded in the past, the distribution of the palliative provisions should be transparent, and inclusive with active participation of mass-based citizen groups.

“This directive should apply to state governments many of which are chiefly culprit in this regard. Government officials cannot afford to create a scenario that precipitates mass unrests at this very delicate and fragile milieu in global history. A stitch in time would save nine!” it concluded.

Politics

We didn’t hoard palliatives – Nigerian Governors

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Nigerian Governors have denied hoarding COVID-19 palliatives.

They made the denial in reaction to the looting of several warehouses nationwide.

Soon after the End SARS peaceful protests were hijacked, thousands of people in different states burgled storage facilities that housed tonnes of foodstuff.

Most of the items were donated by the Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID).

The body comprises business moguls and companies.

At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, they contributed funds and used the same to procure palliatives to assist the federal and state government.

On Monday, the governors insisted that the items were not hidden as widely alleged.

Their position was contained in a statement by Abdulrazaq Bello-Barkindo, spokesman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).

Bello-Barkindo pleaded with members of the public to desist from spreading rumours.

He reiterated that palliatives found in warehouses broken into in Lagos and some other states were kept for members of the society especially vulnerable citizens.

“Until mid-October, when the NGF had its last meeting, up to ten States had not participated in the flag-off ceremonies for the distribution of palliatives in their States. This was because the items meant for distribution in these states had not been completely received from CACOVID.

“Some other States that still had palliatives in their warehouses chose to keep a strategic reserve ahead of a projected second wave of COVID-19. The NGF wishes to state categorically that no State has been involved in or has hoarded any palliatives.”

The NGF told contributors to the palliatives that prior to the looting, states had kept full accounts of all the items received and distributed.

The governor assured that they are doing their best under the circumstances to ameliorate the needs of the population.

Politics

Hoodlums invade Abuja industrial estate, loot warehouses.

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Hundreds of hoodlums, on Sunday, invaded the Idu Industrial Layout in Abuja, raiding several warehouses.

People who witnessed the looting, reported that the thugs made away with bags of rice, cartons of tin tomatoes,  cereals, milk, bales of Ankara materials, and other items.

It was observed that despite the presence of policemen, the defiant mob continued to plunder warehouses.

The hoodlums were seen loading tricycles and motorcycles with the stolen goods as policemen fired teargas.

Politics

Hoodlums loot COVID-19 palliatives in Cross River

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Hoodlums on Friday evening stormed an uncompleted building owned by the Cross River State government and looted some food items believed to be part of the COVID-19 palliatives stored there.

The building, housing the proposed West African Fabrication Academy, was where Governor Ben Ayade last April held a symbolic flag-off exercise for distribution of COVID-19 palliatives.

It was a free- for- all exercise as the hoodlums carted away bags of rice, beans, cartons of noodles and other food items believed to be transferred from the warehouse to the uncompleted building.

Video of the looting on social media showed some of youths shouting: “This is wickedness. This is what they were supposed to give us, they did not. Somebody when and kept it in uncompleted building. Let security come, we don’t care.”

Earlier on Friday, hoodlums had also stormed Calabar South Local Government Secretariat where office of the local government chairman was vandalised.

Confirming the incident, the Chairman, Hon Esther Bassey, said: “Hoodlums attacked the political block in the secretariat premises looting items and destroying structures.

“They started burning tyres in the premises, destroying windows and other property. Staff and limited security that were in the secretariat had to leave for safety before calling for re-enforcement.

“It was when re-enforcement of security arrived and they started hearing the siren sound, then they escaped through the nearby creeks.

“What we are telling our people is that there is no sense in destruction of public properties. People should go stay at home and parents should advice their wards to maintain peace in the community.”

As at the time of this report, youths were reportedly heading to the SEMA warehouse.

In a swift response, Ayade announced a 24-hour curfew from 6pm.

A statement Special Adviser Media and Publicity to the Governor Christian Ita, said: “Following the hijacking of the peaceful protest against police brutality in the state by hoodlums, the state governor, Sir Ben Ayade has imposed a 24hr curfew in the state starting from 6pm on Friday, October 23, 2020.”

“Residents of the state are advised to observe the curfew as security agents have been mandated to arrest anybody who flouts it.”

Politics

Govt condemns raid as residents loot COVID-19 palliatives in warehouse

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Hoodlums yesterday invaded a warehouse where COVID-19 palliative was stored at Mazamaza community in Lagos State.

The community is located in the Oriade Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of the state.

Viral video footages circulating on social media showed the looters, entering the warehouse and looting the COVID-19 palliative.

The warehouse is located on Benster Crescent, popularly called Monkey Village.

The looting started as early as 8:00 a.m.

It was gathered that the hoodlums also set a bonfire at a junction not far from the warehouse. The hoodlums later asked residents in the area to move into the warehouse and pick some palliative.

One of the residents, Sherif Olaiya said: “We heard sounds of gunshots.

The hoodlums attacked a place where COVID-19 palliatives were stored. They then asked residents to pick the palliatives.”

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has condemned the vandalisation of the warehouse at Mazamaza. In a statement by Abisola Olusanya, acting Commissioner for Agriculture, the government said the warehouse held the food palliative packages donated to the state government by the Private Sector Coalition against COVID-19 (CACOVID) group.

“The Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had on September 22nd formally taken receipt of the food palliatives from the CACOVID team meant for distribution to indigent persons,” the statement said.

“The government notes that the warehouse in question is not state-owned and its usage was made available to the CaCOVID group. The State Government had been allowed to commence rebagging of food items allotted to it from the quantities meant for South-West states.

“The re-bagging was being done to account for each beneficiary receipt, as was required and monitored by the CACOVID team.

The distribution was ongoing but had to be halted due to protests, before the invasion of the warehouse yesterday.

“For effective distribution of the food palliative, groups such as transport unions, ethnic groups, religious associations, artisans and tradesmen association, market men and women association, People Living with Disabilities, orphanages and old peoples’ homes among others were being used as distribution channels to their members.

“The State Government however regrets the invasion of the warehouse and appreciate the support offered by the CACOVID group to the citizenry of Lagos.”

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