Palliatives: Frustrated Bayelsa Residents Ransacked Warehouse
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Palliatives: Frustrated Bayelsa Residents Ransacked Warehouse
By Guye Mohammed Alhaji
Some frustrated Yenagoa residents in the Bayelsa state capital have reportedly breached a warehouse on the evening of Sunday, August 27.
They allegedly accessed food supplies that were designated as 2022 flood palliatives by the state government.
The warehouse, situated along Isaac Boro Expressway, was ransacked by individuals who expressed their frustration over the nation’s challenging economic situation, exacerbated by the Federal Government’s decision to remove subsidies on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly referred to as petrol.
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The Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency (BYSEMA) stated that the food items taken from the warehouse were no longer suitable for human consumption as they had been stored during the 2022 flood in the state.
The federal government had previously announced an allocation of N5 billion in palliative grants to states for distribution among Nigerian citizens.
In response to the warehouse incident, Hon. Walamam Sam Igrubia, the Director-General of BYSEMA, issued a statement on Monday, August 28.
He explained that the agency has been preparing for potential flooding this year when he visited the warehouse premises.
In his presence, remnants of food items, notably rice and garri, which were no longer fit for consumption, had been removed from the warehouse and placed outside for disposal before the intrusion occurred.
Hon. Igrubia emphasised that BYSEMA had not hoarded fresh food palliatives, and the items looted were unsuitable for human consumption.
He also discouraged those who took these unfit items from consuming them, citing safety concerns.
The agency, however, condemned attempts by political opposition groups in the state to exploit the incident for political gain and reassured the public of its readiness to manage the distribution of palliatives provided by the Federal Government to mitigate the effects of fuel subsidy removal and potential flooding this year.
