By Our Correspondent

The Delta State Commissioner for information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, has said that saving the lives of Deltans was more important than saving the economy.

Aniagwu who disclosed this to Vanguard in a phone chat on Thursday in Warri, said the distribution of palliatives in the state would commence by weekend.

The commissioner who was reacting to the Wednesday protest in Sapele Local Government Area said government recognised the pains the people were going through.

Recalled that gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta had on Tuesday extended the lockdown order in the state for additional two weeks after the expiration of the existing 14 days which commenced on April 1.

The aim was to curtail the spread of the global pandemic.

“We recognised the pains our people are going through in this trying time. We will start the distribution of palliatives to the grassroot by weekend to cushion the effect. Government is interested in saving lives. The life of the people is more important than the economy.

“People should support the government in this trying moment. The extension of the lockdown is for the interest of the people,” he said.

Aniagwu urged the affluents and corporate bodies in the society to support the government by way of reaching out to the people, advising people to see the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic as collective responsibility.

“People should not see the government as being harsh or the present situation as three things. It is government and the people on one side and COVID-19 on the other side,” he said.