COVID-19 palliative, were stocked in a warehouse in Mazamaza, a facility at the Crescent, popularly called Monkey Village area in Lagos State.
On discovering the warehouse, on Thursday, Lagosians who believed that the food items were met for them, allegedly broken into the warehouse and carted away the items.
it was learnt that the items were meant to be shared during the Coronavirus period but were allegedly hijacked by some power blocks and kept for themselves.
Some people have described the alleged act of the Lagos State government as wickedness in the highest order.
A cross section of commentators said: “These were gotten from a warehouse, food meant for the poor masses during the Covid-19 lockdown, they will come to a community with only two bags of rice and be sharing it in cups, such that a whole family will be getting only two cups of rice and probably three sachet of indomie.
“They will pack the rest in their warehouses, storing them up for their next generations to eat. In my location, they didn’t share anything.
“Who could believe that this kind of foodstuffs that was meant for the masses exist and in such quantity. Why are people so wicked?
“Those in government have been so selfish and wicked to the people”.
They urged the youth to desist from violence especially burning down banks and the likes, calling on them not to deviate nor loose focus of the protest, “All we want is good governance”.
Ugochi Lucy said: “Don’t mind these evil men with heart of stone that call themselves our leaders. They don’t deserve pity at all. I just wish the youths will desist from destruction of properties especially the ones owned by our fellow masses. This is a year to remember”.
Chikaodili Agu Offor, however lamented, “People that came late to the scene will be crying, enough food for the community. Thank God for the #EndSars protests that revealed this”.
In a swift reaction, Friday, the state government condemned the attack on the COVID-19 palliative warehouse in Mazamaza by alleged hoodlums.
In a statement by Gawat Jubril, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the state governor on New Media, said the palliatives were donated by the Private Sector Coalition against COVID-19 (CACOVID) group and was set to be distributed if not for the EndSARS protest.
According to the statement, “Lagos State Government has today condemned the vandalization of the warehouse at Mazamaza housing the food palliative packages donated to the State government by the Private Sector Coalition against COVID-19 (CACOVID) group.
“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 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 rebagging was being done to account for each beneficiary receipt, as was required and monitored by the CACOVID team.
“The distribution was on-going but had to be halted due to protests, before the invasion of the warehouse today.
“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.
“The State Government however regrets the invasion of the warehouse and appreciate the support offered by the CACOVID group to the citizenry of Lagos”, the statement added.
