COVID-19 palliatives hoarding, selling wickedness – Cleric

Ven. Ifeanyi Akunna, on Sunday condemned the hoarding of palliatives meant for Nigerians in different states.

He described it as “sheer wickedness”, wondering why food was stored while citizens starved.

Akunna, Vicar of Anglican Church of the Epiphany, Area 11, Garki in Abuja, also warned Nigerians against ignoring COVID-19 safety protocols.

NAN reports that in a sermon, the cleric reminded the people that the pandemic was not over.

He appealed for caution, noting that nonchalant attitude may lead to a second wave of coronavirus.

Akunna said such a situation will cause another round of lockdown and economic meltdown.

“It is high time we prayed against the second outbreak so that it will not thrive in Nigeria. This prayer has to be backed with action as we need to take all the necessary precautions,” he said.

The religious leaders denounced the politicization and commercialization of the pandemic.

“God will hold anybody responsible, who takes undue advantage of the virus to defraud the government and exploit the poor,” he said.

Akunna further identified greed and injustice as part of the country’s problems.

He advised Nigerians to always seek God, assist the needy and focus less on wealth and glamour.

An elder statesman, Buba Galadima, had disclosed that a state government sent some persons to his office to seek buyers for palliatives.

In at least 12 states, thousands broke into private and government warehouses housing food items.

In one of the viral videos of the incidents, some youths shared part of their loot with beggars on the roadside.