*PRESS RELEASE*
*October 23, 2020*
*For immediate release*
*Breached warehouse, a strategic reserve to mitigate
eventualities – Edo govt*
The Edo State Government has said that the government warehouse
breached in Medical Stores Road, Benin City, storing palliatives
materials and medical supplies, served as a strategic reserve to
mitigate eventualities in the state.
In a statement, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and
Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said upon receipt of
relief materials, there has been an ongoing process of distribution
for the past seven months to the vulnerable and poor population to
mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 crisis in the state.
Explaining that the vandalised warehouse stored some strategic
medical assets, he said the items looted include vaccines, high-end
equipment and other supplies.
He noted that 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 vandalised,
which is most condemnable.
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“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 coronavirus 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).
-###-
Signed
*Crusoe Osagie*
*_Special Adviser, Media & Communication Strategy_* *_Edo
State_*