Hoodlums on Thursday broke into a warehouse in Maza Maza, Amuwo Odofin local government, Lagos, where COVID-19 palliatives were stored.
According to social media clips, this action of the hoodlums was seen as a big opportunity by lots of residents who stormed the warehouse to also take their own bags of rice and other items.
It was also gathered and seen that vehicles belonging to various security personnel took part in carting away the palliatives.
Residents were overheard saying that the items have been in the warehouse since May this year and were wondering what has prevented officials of the government from distributing them to Lagosians.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has condemned the vandalisation of the warehouse.
In a statement by the state Acting Commissioner for Agriculture, Abisola Olusanya, the government said the warehouse houses the food palliative packages donated to the state government by the Private Sector-led Coalition against COVID-19 (CACOVID) group,
She stated that the items belong to the Southwest, contrary to social media reports that they are all for Lagos.
Olusanya also explained that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on September 22, 2020, formally took the food palliatives from the CACOVID team for distribution to indigent residents.
She added that: “The State had repackaged its share of the consignment and was distributing it before the protests that have affected activities in the State.
“The repackaging was being done to account for every beneficiary, according to the agreement with the CACOVID Group, which monitored the process.
“The warehouse in question is not State-owned and its usage was made available to the CACOVID group.
“The distribution was on-going but had to be halted due to protests, before the invasion of the warehouse today (Thursday).
“For effective distribution of the food palliatives, groups such as Transport Unions, Ethnic Groups, Religious Associations, Artisans and Tradesmen Association, Market men 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 appreciates the support offered by the CACOVID group to the citizenry of Lagos.”
