OGUN CACOVID PALLIATIVES RECEIVED LATE SEPTEMBER, DISTRIBUTION ALREADY STARTED

• 9 LGAs reached with relief packages

• Video surfaces of Bishop's Court, proves no palliative hoarded

The Ogun State Government has debunked malicious rumours alleging that it hoarded or diverted COVID-19 relief packages donated by the Private Sector-led Coalition against COVID-19, CACOVID.

According to the Government, the only relief packages still in the possession of the State were received towards the end of September, and have since 4th October been distributed across 9 Local Government Areas to the poor, vulnerable and elderly who are the target recipients.

The distribution which kicked off at the Arcade Ground of the Governor's Office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta started with Abeokuta South LGA.

The rumours had alleged that the palliative items were discovered hidden at three different locations, including the Bishop's Court, as well as an unnamed store in Onikolobo, Abeokuta; and the NYSC Camp in Sagamu.

Already, the Bishop of the Egba Anglican Diocese, E.O. Adekunle has made a video of the empty hall alleged by hoodlums who laid siege on the Anglican compound two days ago, to have been filled to the brim with supposedly diverted relief packages.

In addition to this, it has been impossible for purveyors of the fake and misleading news to name any one store in Onikolobo which can accommodate the number of relief packages alleged to have been hoarded or diverted.

On its part, the Ogun State Government wishes to further make clarifications on the relief packages stored in the NYSC Camp.

The palliative bags have since their delivery in September, been distributed according to purpose. They have not been kept in the camp for any political reasons, including the coming local government electioneeeing campaigns in the State.

The State Government has put in place, strict monitoring of the receipt, release and distribution of these palliatives, such that it is impossible that they will be diverted and relocated anywhere else for uses other than to bring succour to those most hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ogun State Government has always encouraged the role of the Private Sector in the joint development of the Gateway State, and will never undermine the significant role that the CACOVID has been playing nationally in the fight against Coronavirus and its socioeconomic effects since early this year.

The general public is therefore urged to disregard the lies being circulated about the management of these items which the Government will continue to distribute to target beneficiaries, to cushion the effects of the pandemic on citizens of Ogun State.