Hoarded Palliative: Adamawa, Bayelsa, which state is next?
Around 8pm on Sunday, 27 August, 2023, residents of Yenagoa, the headquarters of Bayelsa State went to the privately owned warehouse to loot it. They succeeded in carting away food items, which the Bayelsa State Emergency Agency said had expired.
More Nigerians have been plunged into poverty with the removal of subsidy and its resultant consequences. The federal government has sent rather inadequate food items and other palliatives to states for distribution to the most vulnerable.
Before that time, residents of Yola, capital of Adamawa State looted the warehouse that contained hoarded palliatives. They carried bags of rice, kegs of oil, spaghetti, noodles, beans, maize, garri and other consumables. The Adamawa State Government had to declare a state of emergency over the matter.
Though there were discussions on the social media and on the television and radio, there was nothing more about the matter. The people had to break in to take what could have a bit relieved them of their pains. The hoarded palliatives were meant for them. But the government would rather keep them for a purpose that’s not immediately known.
As if that’s not enough, another scenario happened yesterday evening in Bayelsa State. Less than one hour after the director-general of the Bayelsa State Emergency Agency left his office, angry residents stormed the warehouse for the hoarded palliatives. What could the director be doing on Sunday?
The hungry people took food items including rice, garri, beans, oil just as their compatriots did in far away Adamawa State. How did the state government react?
The agency said that the hoarded palliatives have expired. What could have made the government or the agency refuse to distribute the food items before they expired? The level of callousness in the country is far beyond human comprehension. One would wonder how long the foods had been there.
Clearly written on one of the bags of the rice is the target of the foods. They are to be given to flood victims. Bayelsa State is prone to floods and it has suffered several cases this year alone. The hoarded palliatives should have been distributed to the victims perhaps some years back.
It has happened in Adamawa and Bayelsa now. Which state is next? The Federal Government has released thousands of bags of rice to the state governments for distribution. Would they do the needful or wait for the hungry and angry Nigerians to descend on the warehouses and loot them? Which state would be the next in particular?
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