Vandalized warehouse, a strategic reserve for contingencies – Edo govt
By Joy Okosieme
The warehouse along Medical Stores Road in Benin City storing palliatives and medical supplies which was broken into by protesters, served as a strategic reserve to mitigate eventualities in the state, the Edo State Government has said.
In a statement on Saturday, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said there had been consistent distribution of relief materials in the last seven months to the vulnerable and poor population to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 crisis in the state.
Explaining that the vandalized warehouse stored some strategic medical assets, he said the items looted include vaccines, high-end equipment and other supplies.
The Governor’s aide said the government has distributed most of the palliative materials sent to the state and what was stored at the warehouse, which has now been breached in Medical Stores Road, was strategic to mitigate eventualities.
According to him, “It is unfortunate that critical medical supplies, including vaccines meant for children, were vandalized, which is most condemnable.
“The other warehouses for food supplies in Edo State are empty as the relief materials that were earlier housed in them have all been distributed.
“In the analysis of the trend of corona virus pandemic by scientists across the globe, studies have shown that there was going to be a second wave of the pandemic. This has been proven to be true in most parts of Europe, where there has since been a second round of shutdown, with its attendant economic implications.
“With this and other possible eventualities, it is only wise for government to have a strategic reserve,” he said.
He added that it was important to note that in the past few weeks, the government has been able to fall back on this strategic reserve in response to the plight of people displaced by flooding in parts of Etsako Central, Etsako East and Esan South East Local Government Areas (LGAs).
