A Non-Governmental Organisation, the Centre for Human and Socioeconomic Rights (CHSR), has urged the Federal Government to review its structure of distributing palliatives to cushion effect of lockdown over COVID-19 pandemic.
Its National President, Mr Alex Omotehinse, made the plea in a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday.
Omotehinse said that many genuinely poor Nigerians were not captured in the Federal Government’s food items and cash distribution programme.
According to him, CHSR is in solidarity with the Nigerian people at this difficult times in the history of the world.
“The leadership of CHSR stands with all well-meaning Nigerians and the government at various levels to fight this pandemic outbreak, but it is important we make some observations.
“CHSR notes that people are complaining of hunger and not Coronavirus as the relief materials and cash being given to some vulnerable are not properly coordinated.
“We demand for a proper and accountable palliative measures to be put in place for the common man due to the 14 days extension of the lockdown as we are not satisfied with the process thus far.
“We urge the Federal Government to critically look into the matter and review the structure in which palliative measures are being distributed, especially money distributed since accurate data is not available,” Omotehinse said.
According to him, as the government representatives have been claiming to have dole out several millions of Naira to vulnerable Nigerians, the money and relief materials are still not getting to the right people.
The rights activist advised the Federal Government to leverage on the BVN, co-operative societies, transport associations, market association, traditional leaders, civil societies and others to get the palliatives to the majority in need.
Omotehinse said that the group also observed that the restriction of movement and sit-at-home order was not well coordinated as a measure to contain the spread of the deadly Coronavirus.
The group leader, however, called for prayers for the nation to overcome the pandemic in time with no huge casualties.
“We will continue to pray for Nigeria and other Nations of the world, till the lockdown be over and people can now go about their normal businesses,” he added.
Community Bell reports that some States and the Federal Government had unveiled economic stimulus packages for indigents and the most vulnerable people, following the ‘stay at home’ order.
President Muhammadu Buhari, had in a broadcast on the Coronavirus pandemic on March 29, ordered restriction of movements in Lagos, Ogun and the FCT for initial period of 14 days to combat spread of the deadly virus.
The president, in another national broadcast on Monday, extended the sit-at-home order for another period of 14 days.
