- CLOs, Others Pressure Govt on Palliatives
- Relief Materials Underway, Says Gov Udom
By Akanimo Kufre (The New Diplomat’s A/Ibom/C/River Correspondent)
The Akwa Ibom State Government has finally bowed to pressure from groups and individuals to roll out palliative measures to reduce hunger and suffering following the unscheduled lockdown to control COVID 19 spread in the state.
The announcement came late Tuesday afternoon after groups like Civil Liberty Organisations and others asked Gov Udom Emmanuel to emulate Gov Nyesome Wike, Ben Ayade etc and roll out relief packages to reduce the level of hunger now commonly dubbed — hunger virus.
The information for relief package was announced by the Secretary to the state government, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem.
Read also: Covid-19 Cases Top 318 in Nigeria, Penetrate 6 Geopolitical Zones
It would be recalled that Akwa Ibom State, unlike neighboring States rushed to announce total lockdown on Thursday following NCDC announcement of 5 COVID-19 cases in the state, something that has been disputed by the state.
As of Thursday morning, most markets were shut down and market women were seen crying over their perishable food items lying in waste.
Prices of staple foods like garri immediately skyrocket. Formerly at N200, a family could afford 7cups, but now 3 cups are sold for N200. Things became worse on day 4 of the lockdown such that a bag of sachet water was sold for N200.
However, some market environment were seen to be busy during the early hours of the morning where traders pay as much as N2000 to get out of their wares to sale to desperate buyers.
Many Akwa Ibom citizens have expressed worry that while other states have been benefiting from certain palliative measures, including daily updates on the situation, they have been left to suffer from untold hardship, lack of water, electricity. Also, the critical briefings that should come from the number one citizen of the state, Gov Emmanuel has not been forthcoming.
According to the Civil Liberties Organization, in a statement signed by the chairman Comrade Franklin Isong, “Since NCDC announced 5 cases of COVID 19 in Akwa Ibom and subsequent state broadcast by Gov Udom Emmanuel, there has not been further information on the patients and their current state of health and other development. We urge Akwa Ibom State Government to provide palliatives to citizens in other to cushion the effect of the lockdown and request steady electricity supply to keep citizens company while at home.”
In another development, a political leader in Eket, Mr. Aniekan Akpan had demand for the state governor to submit himself and members of his family to COVID 19 test as way of leading by example.
“It is expedient for Gov Udom Emmanuel to openly test for COVID 19 and make the result public and clear the rumors making the rounds that Udom Emmanuel has been exposed to the virus and had proceeded on self isolation,” Akpan said.
According to Akpan, also a former Chairman of Eket local government, this act by the governor will boost the morals of the citizens who have been exposed to the virus to also go for a test and know their status.
However, while reacting to the piling pressure from citizens on the need for stimulus packages in the state, Gov Udom Emmanuel through the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem said the state is making plans to disburse materials to indigent communities in the state.
“Plans are underway for provision of relief materials including rice, garri, flour and other essential food items to cushion and ameliorate the effects of the Quarantine and Restriction of Movement Regulations 2020.
“A disbursement committee will very soon announce the disbursement modalities directly to all villages in Akwa Ibom state. This mode of disbursements to village will enable trickle down to give succour to all and sundry”.
“Construction work has commenced on a 300 bed Isolation Centre in Ituk Mbang to complement existing Isolation Centres in Ikot Ekpene and Ibom Specialist Hospital, Uyo,” he said.
