The controversy surrounding COVID-19 palliatives which has resulted in looting of the items nationwide continued yesterday as Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State said the distribution of materials in his state was delayed at the request of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq. She has since debuncked this saying it’s untrue.
The Nigerian Governors’ Forum also reacted on Monday, saying it was not true that governors delayed distribution of the items donated by both the Federal Government and the Coalition Against COVID-19, CACOVID.
“As we know, CACOVID operations are mainly domiciled in Lagos, being the headquarters of most of the public-spirited organisations, corporate bodies and individuals that came together to form the Coalition Against COVID-19.
“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 state. This was because the items for distribution had not been completely received from CACOVID,” the NGF had said in a statement signed by Head of Media and Public Affairs, Abdulrazaq Barkindo.
But the ministry in a swift reaction yesterday, said though it would not like to join issues with the governor, the delay in distribution was not caused by the minister.
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This came as CACOVID also explained yesterday that most of the states did not distribute the palliatives because they were yet to get their full allocation.
This is even as the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has asked the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to promptly, thoroughly, transparently and effectively investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged hoarding of COVID-19 palliatives in warehouses in several states, which ought to have been distributed to the poorest and most vulnerable people during the lockdown, and to publish the outcome of such investigation. In apparent response to SERAP’s request, the ICPC said it would investigate the looting of palliatives meant to cushion the negative economic impact of the lock-down induced by COVID-19 on Nigerians.
Minister wanted to be part of palliatives’ distribution — Tambuwal
Speaking while addressing citizens on his government’s effort at checking riots in the state, Tambuwal said Sokoto had no hoarded relief materials meant for distribution.
He said the state had only received two categories of palliatives since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to him, the first relief materials received from the Coalition Against COVID-19, CACOVID, was a bit delayed because the donors wanted the materials to be pooled together before distribution.
The governor informed that as soon as this was achieved, the distribution was done, saying the delay in sharing of the second category received on October 17 from the Federal Government, was on the request of Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, who wanted to be around when the distribution starts.
He said: “Sokoto State has no case of hoarded relief materials meant as COVID-19 palliatives. The state never recorded both the protest and the attendant mayhem. There was one by Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID), which was a donation by an ensemble of philanthropists.
“The distribution of this category was a bit delayed months ago because the donors wanted the donations to be pooled. As soon as that was achieved, we distributed the materials under the supervision of the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Alhaji Sa’idu Umar.
‘’The other category were those items brought by the federal government through the office of the Minister of Disaster Management, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq.
“The items were received on October 17, precisely nine days ago. The little delay we had in distributing the FG palliatives was at the instance of various requests by the minister. She needed to be personally around when the exercise started.
“She made the requests five times before turning up. So, it is not our fault that the items are still being distributed as we speak. It was the minister who said we should wait until she comes. And that was what happened.”
(C) Control TV 2020.
