Abia yet to receive FG’s COVID-19 palliatives

Abia State government has not received any assistance, financial or material from the federal government since the outbreak of the dreaded COVID-19 in the country, the State Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, revealed yesterday.

Kalu said that apart from the sacrifice of the state government and a few private donations, no assistance had come from Abuja as it battled COVID-19 in the state.

He said: “All the palliative food distribution done in Abia State as well as the construction of new isolation centers are projects of Abia State Government led by Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu.

“The public must ignore the sponsored lies and propaganda from those who live by propaganda. Our state has also not received any money from the social investment fund as we are among the four states yet to benefit.”

Kalu also denied rumours making the rounds that the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) was constructing a new isolation center in Ogbor Hill, Aba.

“That project is 100% funded by Abia State Government and we hope to hand over the facility to Abia State University Teaching Hospital afterwards,” he said.

The Commissioner, however, explained that the preparation of isolation centers, personal protection equipments, PPEs, ventilators and others was entirely from the resources of the state government.

On the palliative so far distributed to the people, Kalu said “Abia State Government procured the rice and other foodstuff distributed to the needy through the churches and added the 850 bags of rice donated by Prof. Greg Ibe.”

He went on: “So far, we have procured more than 8,000 bags of 50kg rice and other items such as beans, yam, face masks, hand sanitizers etc.
“We have also distributed the 2,000 cartons of Indomie donated by our brother Chrisnak.
“Distribution of palliatives to our people will continue today and run throughout the lockdown period.

“Aside from Churches, we are also distributing through the state’s geriatric services agency, traditional rulers and presidents general of communities in our state.

“No single grain of rice or any other food stuff has been received by the state from the federal government as rumored by same propagandists. "