Palliatives are supposed to be temporary measures, so how did they become a “national policy” that governors are falling heads over heels on?
INVESTIGATION: Beautiful infrastructure but poor staffing, lack of drugs hinder PHC services in Borno communitiesEXCLUSIVE: Top Nigeria Customs officers enmeshed in multi-billion naira corruption scandalThe lessons of Okuama tragedy, By Michael OwhokoINVESTIGATION: Beautiful infrastructure but poor staffing, lack of drugs hinder PHC services in Borno communitiesEXCLUSIVE: Top Nigeria Customs officers enmeshed in multi-billion naira corruption scandalThe lessons of Okuama tragedy, By Michael...
Palliative sharing is not sustainable; it is ad hoc and a stop-gap measure that can never replace the permanent needs of individuals – three square meals and other essential provisions. The bureaucracy and logistics involved in buying, stocking, planning, and arranging such palliatives alone are herculean.
The dust was yet to settle on the Lagos incident when news filtered in that two students lost their lives, again while struggling to get palliatives at the Nasarawa State University in Keffi, penultimate week. Governor Abdullah Sule initiated the distribution of a 7.5 kilogramme bag of rice and N5,000 to each student in what ordinarily would have been a good gesture. However, the chaos and stampede that accompanied the distribution led to deaths and injuries to at least 23 others.
Palliatives are supposed to be temporary measures, so how did they become a “national policy” that governors are falling heads over heels to show the biggest pyramids of grain palliatives? How sustainable are they as panacea for food insecurity occasioned by banditry, abduction, farmers deserting their farms and government’s insensitive anti-people policies?
Another aspect of this palliative issue is the sheer size, volume, and red tape involved. Billions will end up in the hands of contractors in this poorly handled tokenism, which is what palliative is all about. It will serve as another sad reminder of Sadiya Farouq’s era as Humanitarian Affairs Minister, during which millions of naira were spent on school feeding during the COVID lockdown.
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