In the wake of the public outcry over the excruciating hardship residents of Bonny Local Government Area were facing due to the impromptu lockdown imposed by Rivers State Governor there, stakeholders say palliatives are about to be shipped to Bonny Island.

Reliable sources within the Bonny Local Government Council and the King Perekule Palace, Bonny have confirmed to Kristina Reports that palliatives have been provided and will soon arrive Bonny.

Recall that Kristina Reports had in its daily updates reported that the Ad Hoc Committee on Palliatives set up by the Governor during his meeting with the Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Edward Pepple III, CON, Perekule XI, Chairman, Bonny LGA, David Irimagha, and other stakeholders from Bonny LGA, on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 was yet to meet.

It further reported that the prospects of provision of palliatives was slim as discussions have not been held or decisions taken on the matter.

But reacting to this, sources within the government and the Bonny traditional institution assured that there was hope for residents as the process of shipping palliatives to the LGA were underway.

One of the highly placed sources told Kristina Reports that “There’s hope. Palliatives are on the way,” stressing that, with respect to the various stakeholders, “They are all connected. His Majesty is working with all individuals, groups, IOCs and the government”.  

Our other source, a top official of the Bonny LG Council, who does not want to be named, hinted that the palliatives will arrive Bonny before end of the week as every effort was being made to ensure that residents have some reprieve in the course of the lockdown.

“Palliatives will be in Bonny on or before Friday this week. Haulage will commence soonest,” he disclosed, adding that “the mode of distribution will be cleared by members of the palliative committee before Thursday”.

Residents have raised alarm over the acute hardship occasioned by the sudden lockdown placed on Bonny LGA on the night of Saturday, June 20, 2020, which was to commence just three hours later by midnight of Sunday, June 21, 2020 and nine days later no indications of palliatives.

Some residents who spoke to Kristina Reports even suggested to the State Governor to jettison the palliatives and just lift the lockdown to avoid hunger killing people where COVID-19 failed.