Governor Aminu Tambuwal on Tuesday October 27, alleged that the distribution of COVID-19 palliatives to residents in Sokoto state he governs was delayed at the request of Sadiya Umar Farouk, minister of humanitarian affairs.
Tambuwal who addressed residents on government’s effort to check riots in the state, revealed that Sokoto has only received two categories of palliatives since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He revealed that first relief materials received from the Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) was delayed because the donors wanted the materials to be pooled together before distribution. He stated that they were distributed after it was achieved.
On the second relief materials, Tambuwal said the Minister wanted to be around during the distribution process.
The Governor said;
“Sokoto state has no case of hoarded relief materials meant as COVID-19 palliative.
“The state never recorded both the protest and the attendant mayhem.
“There was one by Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID), which was a donation by an ensemble of philanthropists.
“The distribution of this category was a bit delayed months ago because the donors wanted the donations to be pooled.
“As soon as that was achieved, we distributed the materials under the supervision of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Sa’idu Umar.
“The other category were those items brought by the federal government through the office of the minister of disaster management, humanitarian affairs and social development, Sadiya Umar Farouk.
“The items were received on Oct. 17, precisely nine days ago. The little delay we had in distributing the FG palliatives was at the instance of various requests by the minister.
“She needed to be personally around when the exercise started. She made the requests five times before turning up.
“So, it is not our fault that the items are still being distributed as we speak. It was the minister who said we should wait until she comes. And that was what happened.”
Tambuwal who commended residents of the state for maintaining peace amid the #EndSARS protests, also called for cooperation during the distribution exercise