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  • Updated: April 19, 2020

Coronavirus: Citizens, NGOs, Politicians To The Rescue As Lockdown Bites Harder On Residents Of Lagos

Coronavirus: Citizens, NGOs, Politicians To The Rescue As Lo

 

Nigerians, especially residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ogun and Lagos states, have been lamenting since the lockdown began on March 29, before it was extended for another 14-days by President Muhammadu Buhari, as a measure to curtail the spread of coronavirus in the country.

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Contro (NCDC), Lagos State has now reported 306 cases, followed by FCT – 81, Kano – 37, Osun – 20, Edo – 15, Oyo – 16, Ogun – 12, Kwara – 9, Katsina – 9, Bauchi, Kaduna and Akwa Ibom – 6, Delta and Ekiti – 4, while Ondo has 3 cases. Enugu, Niger, and Rivers have two cases each, while Benue and Anambra have recorded one each, bringing the total confirmed cases in Nigeria to 541.

The lockdown in these states and other states has harmed the populace as all economic activities have been grounded, leaving the average Nigerian who lives on less than a dollar a day, struggling to feed.

Government’s Controversial Palliatives

When the lockdown was announced, the Lagos State Government promised to distribute relief packages to help cushion the effect on its residents. The same could be said of other states like Ogun, Kwara, who assured its residents of government intervention.

The Lagos State Government said it is using the no fewer than 4,000 registered Community Development Associations (CDAs), nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and religious leaders to distribute the economic stimulus package for the indigent and the most vulnerable in the society.

However, the distribution of the relief packages has been met with controversies with most residents complaining of neglect after 19-days of lockdown. In some videos that circulated online, some CDAs were handed a 5kg bag (Rice, Beans, Garri) to distribute to the community housing over 80 houses. In some places, a house is given a loaf of bread as a relief package from the state government.

It is not all negative, though, as some aged residents, through the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA), have benefited from the relief items of the Lagos state government.

Citizens, NGOs, Politicians To The Rescue

While the state government’s effort may be likened to the tiny drop in the mighty ocean, citizens, Nongovernmental Organisations (NGOs) and some politicians have decided to complement the efforts of the state government by reaching out to the people.

In Ifako-Ijaiye local government area of Lagos State, Hon Adewale Temitope Adedeji (JAH), member, Lagos State House of Assembly representing Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency 01, has led by example.

Hon Temitope donated 60 bags of rice, 60 bags of beans, 60 bags of Garri after an initial donation of 50 bags of rice. He also provided 1,100 loaves of family-sized bread and 200 crates of eggs to the people.

On Sunday, he promised to donate half of his April salary to the Lagos State Neighbourhood Corps (LSNC) and health workers within the local government.

In the same vein, Engineer Temitope Akinyemi, an aspirant from Ifako-Ijaiye at the last State of Assembly election in the state, also reached out to over 150 people, distributing rice, garri, noodles, bread, milk, sugar, salt to the seven wards in the local government.

According to Akinyemi, “the gesture is to assist the aged people as part of his contribution to complement the efforts of the state and local government.”

The Imam of Aduramigba Mosque, Akeem Adekunle, also catered for residents of his community, distributing food items to the vulnerable within the Orile-Iju Community in Ifako-Ijaiye.

The Founder, Fountain of Hossanah Church, Pastor Kehinde Abiodun, donated bags of rice and cash to members of his community as a way of reducing the effect of the lockdown on the people.

In the Obawole area of Lagos state, a citizen, Suarau Azzez Oladimeji (Brain) donated foodstuff and soft drinks to members of his community as a means of cushioning the effect of the coronavirus lockdown on the people.

In Ojokoro LCDA, some politicians have also stepped up their games by providing hand sanitizers, food items and other relief packages to residents of the area.

In Ikorodu, an NGO, Our Voice Initiative (OVI) went round donating food items to the vulnerable in the society.

BME Foundation, another NGO, also catered for people within the Agege Local Government area of Lagos State.

Another NGO, Renewed Hope Foundation, within the Oshodi/Apapa Area of the state, complemented the efforts of the state government by providing relief items to residents of various communities.

What Next?

As residents brace themselves for more days of being indoor, the efforts of governments alone would never be enough to keep people from starving. Politicians, citizens, NGOs and religious leaders must all come together and provide the much-needed leadership needed at this trying time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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