#EndSARS: Lagos State Government reacts to looting of COVID-19 palliative warehouse

The Lagos state government has reacted to the looting of the COVID-19 palliative warehouse in the state by hoodlums.

Hoodlums had on Thursday morning broke into the warehouse facility at the Crescent, popularly called Monkey village, where thousands of bagged food items meant to be distributed to the masses are stored.

Reacting to the development in a statement by Gawat Jubril A, senior special assistant (SSA) to the governor of Lagos State on news media, stated that 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.

Read the full statement below…

“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.”