The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, has said the Federal Government’s palliatives of 1,800 bags of rice sent to the state is not good for consumption.
Governor Emmanuel, who stated this on Monday in Uyo during a press conference, said the government could not reject the palliatives from the FG because it was a gift.
The Oyo State government had earlier rejected the 1,800 bags of rice given to it after complaining that they were not safe for consumption.
Governor Emmanuel said he would not distribute the rice to its citizens because the colour has changed, adding that so far the state has distributed palliatives to all villages and groups in the state, including non indigenes.
“The only palliative we have gotten from the Federal Government is 1,800 bags of custom bonded warehouse rice. As I am taking to you, the rice is in the warehouse. It is a gift. We have sent it for test and until the test result is out, we will not distribute it to our citizens. It is not good for consumption.,” he said.
Three cases so far
The Governor stated that the state has only 3 active COVID-19 cases, and have collected a total of 84 specimens so far for testing, adding that every single person who had to be tested for the disease has been tested.
He explained that it would be a waste of resources to go about testing those that should not be tested, noting that no country has been able to test all its citizens for the virus.
Emmanuel denied the notion that there were deliberate attempts to hide the true nature of the spread of the disease in the state, saying that the procedure for testing for the virus was step up by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and has been strictly followed.
He commended the doctors and all the health personnel working with the government to contain the spread of COVID-19, saying they were his heroes.
The governor revealed that the state government recruited 200 additional medical doctors to the 407 already working for the state in the fight against the pandemic.
He said the state was yet to make use of 30 percent of the facility at the isolation centre in Uyo and Ikot Ekpene, stating that work was ongoing at the isolation centre in Ituk Mbang.
He explained that the isolation centres were built according to international standard and some of the machines to be used there have been delayed due to the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“84 specimens have been collected so far. We have only 3 active cases. Our recovering rate has been marvelous, the recovering cases are good. All the people waiting in the isolation unit have all gone home.
“I don’t know any single person who had to be tested that has not been tested. No economy on planet earth has tested all its citizens. It would be absolute waste of resources to go on testing those that should not be tested.
On the relaxation of lockdown, Governor Emmanuel said the decision of the Federal Government would influence the lifting of the ban on the restriction of movement.
He added that for now he cannot open up the state for people to come in, so as not to destroy the efforts made in containing the spread of the disease.
He stated that for the lockdown to be lifted, face masks must be easily accessible and available for people to use, noting that if the restriction order would be lifted, it would be a gradual process.
He further said the state had spent close to N1 billion in the fight against the pandemic, stating that the government has received monetary donations and equipment from individuals and corporate bodies, and that the amount would soon be made public.
