The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP has petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to investigate alleged hoarding of COVID-19 palliatives in warehouses in several states.
In the current wave of #EndSARS protests across the country, hoodlums have stormed warehouses where COVID-19 palliatives were stored for distribution to poor Nigerians and carted away foodstuffs.
The petition dated 24 October 2020 and signed by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare was addressed to the Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye and copied to the Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Itse Sagay.
“Some people have reportedly discovered and taken away COVID-19 palliatives stored in warehouses in several states including Cross River, Edo, Ekiti, Kwara, Kaduna, Lagos, Osun, Plateau and Taraba states, with some of the people reportedly saying: ‘the food is ours but they are keeping it for themselves’.”
“Unless promptly investigated, the allegations of hoarding and diversion would undermine public trust in any efforts to bring the spread of the pandemic under control, exacerbate the negative impact of the crisis, and deny those most in need access to basic necessities of life.
“Tracking, monitoring and ensuring COVID-19 palliatives are timely, effectively, and efficiently distributed to those most in need would improve transparency and accountability, respect for human rights, as well as remove the possibility of political considerations or bribery in the distribution of the palliatives.
“Serious concerns that the alleged hoarding of COVID-19 palliatives in several states and the apparent failure to timely, effectively, efficiently, and transparently distribute the palliatives and other reliefs to the poorest and most vulnerable people have continued to deny many citizens the much-needed support,” the petition added.
