Stop Looting COVID-19 Items, PTF Begs Nigerians

The Presidential Task Force on the COVID-19 Pandemic has appealed to Nigerians to refrain from looting items meant for the national response to the outbreak.

The National Coordinator of the task force, Dr Sani Aliyu, made the plea while briefing the press in Abuja on Monday, noting that some of the warehouses for COVID-19 items do not contain food items.

He said: “Some of our warehouses do not contain food items, they contain medical equipment, test kits and valuable items that are extremely important when it comes to the COVID-19 response.

“Therefore, we are pleading with all those that are currently in the process of planning etc., to desist from doing so. It is important that our assets are protected, it is important that what the country has bought for the purpose of the COVID-19 pandemic and what our donors have provided are used for the purpose that they are meant to do. And this purpose does not include looting of the items.”

The coordinator also clarified the difference between the task force mandate and that of CACOVID.

“CACOVID is a private sector initiative which was set up in the early part of the response as a contribution to the government’s effort. The PTF has worked very closely with CACOVID to deliver some of our key mandates.”