Mr Muhammad Usman, Chairman of the state Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD), disclosed this to newsmen in Dutse on Saturday.

Our correspondent reports that the items were part of the 94 trucks of 49,941 packages containing varieties of food donated to Jigawa by the Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID).

Usman said the items would be distributed to PWDs across the 27 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

He listed the items donated as 1,500 packets of 5kg sugar, 1,500 bags of 10kg rice, 1,000 bags of 5kg white maize grills, 1,500 cartons of spaghetti and 1,500 cartons of noodles.

The chairman added that the items would be distributed among the hearing impaired persons, visually impaired persons, persons affected with leprosy as well as the physically challenged.

He that the assistance came at the right time for PWDs in the state due to their vulnerability during the lockdown period.

Usman, who commended the CACOVID and the state government for the gesture, pledged fair distribution of the items.

He also urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the items in order to ameliorate the unbearable socio-economic hardship brought by COVID-19 pandemic.

It was recalled that Jigawa commenced the distribution of CACOVID palliative to 42,312 households across the 27 LGAs of the state n Sept. 15.

The items were expected to be shared among the indigents in the 3,526 polling units of the state.

Twelve households, consisting of nine men and three widows with orphaned children, were also expected to benefit from each of the polling units.

No political appointees, civil servants or salary earners were allowed to benefit from the items.

The post Jigawa Govt. distributes COVID-19 palliatives to 1, 500 PWDs appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

The anti-graft agencies are the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Mr Hamzat Lawal, Founder of “Follow The Money”, an initiative under Connected Development (CODE), an NGO, made the call in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

Lawal said that the call for investigation became imperative following the discovery of government storehouses for COVID-19 palliatives and the looting spree of these food and material resources across the country.

“It should be recalled that in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic early this year, the Follow The Money team across the 36 States had been tracking intervention funds and materials disbursed to State Governments to cushion the impact of the pandemic.

“A total of 57 Freedom of Information letters were received by 27 State Government agencies, requesting details of COVID-19 funds and the distribution of palliatives but only six states responded.

“They assured that palliatives were distributed accordingly, even though they refused to provide details of distribution and evidence of the same.

“The discovery of palliatives hideouts further indicates a systemic failure in governance and a distrust in leadership.’’

Lawal said that there was no reason the distribution of the items should have been delayed knowing that the coronavirus pandemic worsened the country’s economic situation and increased poverty level.

He said that the discovery further exposed the rot and persistent corruption in the Nigerian system.

“The Nigerian government continues to thwart the possibility of gaining the trust of its citizens, especially with its opacity and poor accountability, which have now materialised in a mob action and heavy looting of COVID-19 palliatives,’’ he said

Lawal said that there was an urgent need for the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 to prioritise addressing the lapses identified ranging from operational mistakes to gross mismanagement of logistics, leading to the recent palliatives looting.

He said that the EFCC and the ICPC should thoroughly investigate procurement fraud and mishandling of COVID-19-related funding and resources at State and Federal level, bringing culprits to justice.

He added that the National Assembly should also hold public hearings on the Palliatives looting and citizens properly briefed on outcomes.

He added that public officials should be held accountable for the lapses in efficiency adding that Nigerians deserved better public service delivery.

Ms Kevwe Oghide,Communications Director, CODE, said that the Follow The Money movement under CODE was initiated to advocate, visualise and track government spending and international aid.

Oghide added that the initiative lets Nigerians to know how effective these funds had been in the rural communities.

The post COVID-19 palliative: Investigate MDAs now, CODE tells ICPC, EFCC appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

The CSOs include Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Enough is Enough (EIE), Partners for Electoral Reform and Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC).

Some of the others are Centre for Information, Technology and Development (CITAD), Yiaga Africa, Global Rights, Project Alert and Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) among others.

The CSOs in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja expressed worry at the attacks on warehouses in many states.

“The looting of COVID-19 palliatives, which were supplied by the Coalition against COVID-19 (CA-COVID), has thrown up another worrying dimension and exposed the rot and corruption in our governance system.

“We unequivocally condemn these attacks and call on the Governors’ Forum to tell Nigerians why they (Governors) intentionally hoarded food items supplied in good faith by the Coalition.

“We have read various official statements from some of the state governments and an unofficial statement attributed to the CACOVID.

“Some of the statements raise some credibility questions.”

The CSOs also condemned the use of ‘live bullets’ on unarmed protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate, on Oct. 20.

The group also condemned acts of thuggery, hate speeches and fake news.

The group said it particularly condemned the hoodlums that attacked security facilities and personnel of the Nigeria Police Force as two wrongs could never make a right.

It maintained that the 5-for-5 demand by the #EndSARS movement should be urgently met in the interest of the Nigerian state.

“One of the demands is the transparent prosecution of the officers responsible for the brutality against citizens.

“In order to build trust in government, we immediately request the prosecution of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) officers who have been identified in the killings, torture, and rape of citizens.”

The CSOs applauded the request of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to the Minister of Justice and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami.

It said this would ensure speedy prosecution of 35 operatives of the defunct SARS.

The group said that the officers were accused of human rights violations and abuse of office in a report by the presidential investigation panel.

It said that as CSOs, the members had begun tracking initiated court cases, particularly in Lagos and Ogun in addition to the panels of inquiry and restitution set up by the states.

It said that so far, it had reviewed 27 of the 36 states that already announced such measures.

The CSOs also said that they had begun to document shreds of evidence with the view to tracking and underscoring the various human rights abuses following the #End SARS protests.

The group said that this included the launch of the Missing Persons Portal and tracking of cases specific to violence against women.

It said that its members were ready to provide live streaming and tech support to the panels setup in order to enhance the credibility of the investigative process.

It expressed concern that the NHRC which announced its constitution of an independent investigation panel into the activities of the dissolved SARS did not have a constituted Governing Council.

The CSOs, therefore, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to grant the commission the needed capacity to conduct its investigation by inaugurating the Commission’s Governing Council without further delay.

“In Section 7(3) of the National Human Rights Commission Act, the Executive Secretary lacks the power to act without a Governing Council, thus invalidating any action taken by the Anthony Ojukwu-led Commission.”

The post Explain to Nigerians why palliatives were not shared, CSOs tell governors appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

The call was part of the communique issued after an emergency virtual NEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday.

NEC said that CACOVID should clearly explain the circumstances behind the delay in the distribution of food items domiciled in warehouses across the country.

The council expressed sincere condolences to all those who had been injured, suffered the death of a loved one or lost property since the hijacking of the EndSARS demonstrations by criminals and hoodlums across the country.

NEC observed the low morale of security operatives during the period and members resolved to commend the Nigerian Police Force and all the security agencies for their handling of what is clearly an unprecedented problem.

“Council affirmed an unequivocal belief and assurance that most members of the nation’s security personnel are law-abiding and are capable of restoring law and order in the country.

“NEC also supported President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to a complete overhaul of the country’s security services by improving the capacity of security officers across the rank and file, while providing them with the necessary equipment to carry out their jobs effectively.

“NEC enjoined the CACOVID leadership to come out with an independent statement on the status of the distribution of palliatives donated to States which should clearly explain the circumstances behind the delay in the distribution of food items domiciled in warehouses across the country.

“Council reviewed the activities of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and other secessionist groups, stressing that these subterranean and violent tendencies must be quickly addressed given that they have continually hijacked demonstrations and caused mayhem and lawlessness across parts of the country.

“Council established that economic issues underlie what the country has gone through in the last few weeks. Good governance and improved service delivery remain the fundamental panacea to social tensions in the country, and social welfare must be given greater priority in the first instance.’’

NEC decried the irresponsible use of social media in fueling misinformation and increasing social tensions.

It agreed to embark on an objective framing of a new security and stability architecture for the country.

The council said such architecture would be supported by the development of a framework of engagement with the youth, civil society and religious leaders; a framework for national unity.

“A framework to engage with security agencies that will devolve more control to state governors, who are the chief security officers of their states.

“A framework for federal support to provide compensation for those who have incurred losses in the last few weeks and a framework for social security to deal with the problem of unemployment and poverty in the country.”

A joint committee was consequently set up by the Chairman of NEC to work with state governments represented by the Governors of Ebonyi, Ondo, Niger, Delta, Borno and Sokoto States to implement the resolutions of the emergency meeting.

The post NEC urges CACOVID to explain status of palliatives donated to states appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

The NGF Head of Media and Public Affairs, Mr Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, made the clarification in a statement issued on Monday morning in Abuja.

”While some state are yet to begin distribution because they had not fully received items meant for distribution, palliatives found in warehouses in Lagos and some states were kept for the vulnerable,” the forum.

The NGF noted that the 36 state governors had since the EndSARS demonstrations started, held several meetings to address the underlying concerns.

“The NGF re-emphasises that palliatives found in warehouses that were broken into in Lagos and some other states were kept in storage for members of the society especially our vulnerable citizens,” the forum said

“For the avoidance of doubt, some of the palliatives had the CACOVID stamp embossed on them, meaning that their source is unambiguous.

“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; CACOVID.

“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 States.

“This was because the items meant for distribution in these states had not been completely received from CACOVID.

“Some other states that still had palliatives in their warehouses chose to keep a strategic reserve ahead of a projected second wave of COVID-19.

“Furthermore, as of a couple of weeks ago, some states were still receiving palliatives from the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

“The NGF also assures all contributors to the palliatives that prior to the looting of these warehouses, states had kept full accounts of all the items received and distributed.”

Bello-Barkindo called on members of the public to check their facts.

He said while the governors recognised the need for improved governance, members of the public should be careful not to damage country by pushing the wrong narrative.

“The state governors are doing their very best under the circumstances to ameliorate the needs of the teeming population

“The NGF stands for justice, improved governance and a progressive Nigeria.

“The NGF regrets the loss of lives and property occasioned by the violent protests that erupted, and calls for calm.

“A lot of the information circulating the social media needs to be fact checked,” the NGF said.

The post Looted COVID-19 palliatives not hoarded, kept for vulnerable people – NGF appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

This was contained in a statement signed by Ms Abisola Olusanya, state Acting Commissioner for Agriculture, on Thursday in Lagos.

Olusanya said that Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu had on Sept. 22 formally taken receipt of the food palliatives from the CACOVID team meant for distribution to the indigent.

She noted that the warehouse in question was not state owned and its usage was made available to the CACOVID group.

She added that the state government had been allowed to commence re-baging of food items allotted to it from the quantities meant for South-West states.

According to the statement, the re-baging 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 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 warehouses and appreciate the support offered by the CACOVID group to the citizenry of Lagos,” she said.

The post Lagos regrets vandalisation CACOVID food palliatives warehouse appeared first on NEWSVERGE.