Africa Press-Nigeria:<\/p>\n
Nigerian Governors have denied hoarding COVID-19 palliatives.<\/p>\n
They made the denial in reaction to the looting of several warehouses nationwide.<\/p>\n
Soon after the End SARS peaceful protests were hijacked, thousands of people in different states burgled storage facilities that housed tonnes of foodstuff.<\/p>\n
Most of the items were donated by the Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID).<\/p>\n
The body comprises business moguls and companies.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
On Monday, the governors insisted that the items were not hidden as widely alleged.<\/p>\n
Their position was contained in a statement by Abdulrazaq Bello-Barkindo, spokesman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).<\/p>\n
Bello-Barkindo pleaded with members of the public to desist from spreading rumours.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cUntil 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
The NGF told contributors to the palliatives that prior to the looting, states had kept full accounts of all the items received and distributed.<\/p>\n
The governor assured that they are doing their best under the circumstances to ameliorate the needs of the population.<\/p>\n