Lawyer and Human Rights activist Femi Falana has condemned
the hoarding of COVID-19 palliatives in several cities in Nigeria, calling
it a “crime against humanity.”
The discovery of COVID-19 palliatives warehouses, where food
meant for the public to ease the effects of the coronavirus-induced lockdown
earlier this year, led to widespread outrage, looting and stampedes, in Lagos,
Jos, Kaduna, Calabar, Ilorin, Ibadan and other Nigerian cities.
“It’s almost like a crime against humanity. Just like some
public officers have diverted money meant for providing palliatives meant for
people who have been displaced in their homes, internally displaced people,
Falana said in an interview with ARISE News.
“How can you hoard? It’s intolerable, it’s provocative. Our government will have to apologise to the Nigerian people. Look at the crowds in Jos. How do you avoid stampedes? And stampedes have happened in some places. Lives have been lost needlessly.”
The lawyer urged state governments to emulate Sokoto State
Governor Aminu Tambuwal, who ordered the immediate distribution of palliatives
when looting broke out in other parts of the country.
“What level of stealing is this? Members of the ruling class
in Nigeria will have to have a serious rethink. In looting the treasury of the
country, there are areas you must not get to.
“You can see the ordinary people; they went to look for
covid-19 palliatives. Nobody can explain the hoarding of such items meant for
the poor. Not bought by the government but bought from money contributed by
people in the private sector to help the poor.
“The government must be very careful that you don’t provoke
the people to violence, and those are the lessons we have to learn.”
The human rights activist also called on the government to
compensate victims of looting, destruction of property and violence, and
encouraged casualties to sue for negligence.
“Every Nigerian is entitled to protection of his or her life
or property. Once due to negligence, due to lack of proper policing, the
government must pay. As a matter of law, if anybody dies, the family member has
the right to make a claim.
“The government has a duty to compensate those who have lost
their properties, breadwinners- that is the position of the law,” Falana said.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday"How can a government hoard Indomie? It's intolerable, its provocative. Our government will have to apologise to the Nigerian people." - Lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN) on the discovery of COVID-19 palliatives around Nigeria. pic.twitter.com/ZUrM0GE0xd
— ARISE News Feed (@ARISEtv) October 26, 2020
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