Lagos Govt says Looted Palliatives Delivered September 22

The Lagos State Government has said that palliatives looted by residents of the state in Mazamaza community on Thursday were delivered September 22.

In a statement by Abisola Olusanya, the acting commissioner for agriculture in the state, the government said the warehouse invaded by residents and hoodlums houses the food palliative packages donated to the State government by the Private Sector Coalition against COVID-19 (CACOVID) group.

Lagos residents on Thursday attacked the warehouse where COVID-19 palliatives were stored.

The warehouse is located in Mazamaza community of Oriade Local Council Development Area, Lagos State.

Video clips circulating across social media Thursday morning showed how residents, led by community hoodlums, gained entrance into the warehouse and looted  COVID-19 palliatives.

Witnesses said a bonfire was set at a junction not far from the warehouse, after which palliatives were carted away by joyful residents.

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All of the looted items were branded as Covid-19 palliatives, eye witnesses said in telephone interviews Thursday evening.

The development comes against the mayhem and anarchy that trailed Tuesday night shootings of #EndSARS protesters at Lekki area of the state.

On Wednesday, notable media organisations and public institutions were set ablaze across the state.

They include Television Continental and The Nation newspapers, both allegedly owned by a former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu.

In its reaction, the government condemned the vandalisation.

“The State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu had on September 22nd 2020 formally taken receipt of the food palliatives from the CACOVID team meant for distribution to the indigent,” the government said in a statement Thursday.”

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.

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

The government said the distribution was on-going but had to be halted due to protests, before the invasion of the warehouse by hoodlums and residents Thursday.

“For effective distribution of the food palliatives, groups such as Transport Unions, Ethnic Groups, Religious Associations, Artisans and Tradesmen Association, Marketmen and Women Association, People Living with Disabilities, Orphanages and Old Peoples’ Homes among others were being used as distribution channels to their members,” it said.

“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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