The unfortunate situation presented by the CONVID – 19 across the world, which as at Saturday, April 4,2020, 1, 192, 028 cases had been recorded globally with 64, 316 deaths, has brought about social and economic lockdown in most of the viable financial capitals with devastating effects.
In Nigeria, 238 cases were confirmed as at today, April 7, 2020, with Lagos State having 120 cases to emerge as the State with the highest number of cases in the country.
The Federal Capital Territory, Abuja (48), Osun (20), Oyo (9), Edo States (7), Ogun (6), Bauchi (6), Kaduna (5), Akwa Ibom (5) and Edo (11) are some of states with high confirm cases in the country.
A total number of 5 persons has far died from the virus in the country while 33 people have recovered and discharged.
In order to prevent the spread of the deadly virus, the federal government, in conjunction with the governments of the mostly hits States (Lagos State, Abuja and Oyo State), declared a 2- weeks lockdown to combat the disease. Many other states have follow suit with the spread of CONVID – 19.
This has caused severe economic situations in the lives of the citizens in the country, especially in Lagos State where many are calling for social interventions from the government to cushion the effects of the lockdown on them.
Many have been living in misery since the stay-at-home order by the government, especially those whose means of livelihood depend on daily economic activities.
In Ikorodu, our reporters, who are covering every part of the Ikorodu Division which has six councils, were inundated with requests that government should provide social interventions in form of food and monetary support.
Many of the residents that besieged the Lagos State Emergency Market at Government Technical College in Ikorodu, on Friday, April 3,2020, thought that the government was giving out food items free but were disappointed when they learnt that the state government only provided the platform to enable private individuals bring products and farm produce to sell to people since the regular markets are currently shut due to the lockdown.
The misery being experienced by people calls for urgent social intervention not only from the government but also from private companies and privileged individuals to ease the sufferings on the people and make them stay indoor as directed by the government as part of the precautionary measures to tackle the spread of CONVID – 19.
There is no doubt that the state government is already overburdened due to the fall in oil prices, increasing demands from the residents and the expenses being incurred in containing the sudden emergence of CONVID – 19 in the State.
Be that as it may, it is still the responsibility of the government to provide for the 22million Lagosians during this time of the lockdown, especially the vulnerable ones that are actually in need.
Meanwhile, in responding to the clamour for social intervention to ameliorate the sufferings of the people during this lockdown period, the state government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, has provided succor by distributing relief materials such as rice, beans, garri, salt and bread to Lagosians.
About 4,200 of the relief materials were brought to Ikorodu and were distributed to various Councils, Community Development Committees (CDCs), Community Development Associations (CDAs), Social Media platforms, Youth groups and others in the division.
Compare to other parts of the state, the distribution of the relief packages peacefully done, though, not without hitches as there were complaints that the number of beneficiaries supplied was very small compared to the population of the vulnerable people in the division.
Aside the government’s intervention, the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, has led other politicians and wealthy individuals in providing complimentary stimulus packages in form of food items such as garri, sphagetti, noddles ash donamong others while cash donations were also given to some residents.
In the first phase of the distribution of his relief materials which was distributed to the residents through major social media platforms related to Ikorodu, the four-term lawmaker who is currently outside the country, reached out to 2000 households.
Member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing the Ikorodu Constituency II, Hon. Nurudeen Saka Solaja in support of the Lagos State Government during the week provided 3000 residents with food items.
According to Bibire, the lawmaker’s political machinery, the gesture, which cut across the three council areas in Ikorodu Constituency II – Igbogbo/Bayeku, Ijede and Imota Local Council Development Areas, was in support of the ongoing Lagos State COVID-19 Emergency Food Response initiated by Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Mr Oluwatoyin Gafaar Bolowotan, the Director – General of the Lagos State Sports Commission also provided food item (rice) to 200 households as a social support.
The sports administrator, in a release sent to THE IMPACT, stated that the gesture is the first phase of his intervention program.
On Thursday, April 2, 2020, the Chairman of the Igbogbo Muslim Community and the Aare Adinni of the Igbogbo Central Mosque, Alhaji Abdul-Ganiu Kehinde Olubodun, also distributed rice and garri to 200 individuals as his own support for the vulnerable residents in Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA.
Also, a non-profit making organisation, Pepc Foundation founded by an American based philanthropist, Barr Luqman Akinsanya, has also given out relief packages in support of the vulnerable people in Ikorodu.
According to Mr Shamsideen Akinsanya, the Coordinator of the social intervention program, he stated that 50 households were given the packages which contained rice, garri, spaghetti, salt and palm oil while their plan is to do more in the next eight days in order to reach out to another 400 families that are truly in need.
THE IMPACT also gathered that Joy Cometh International, one of the largest Churches in Ikordu division, has also been reaching out to many residents, including their members that are in need.
Another individual, Mr Mukaila Abiola Lamina, a former PDP candidate for the Lagos State House of Assembly in the last general elections, has also provided intervention by giving food items such as rice, beans, garri and noddles to 500 residents.
Also, Otunba Ganiyu Abiru, the Chairman of the Ikorodu-Oga Development Association (IKODSS) and Mr Kunle Matti, a senior local government employee, THE IMPACT gathered have reached to some vulnerable people in the society with food items.
The Managing Director of Polaris Bank PLC, Mr Tokunbo, we gathered also reached out to thousands of residents in Ikorodu Division during the week. Otunba Steve Adewale Anifowoshe and Prince Adebowale Odutola Eniayewun Esumade also did same by distributing food items to hundreds of residents through the Ayangbure palace.
His Royal Majesties, Oba (Engr.) Kabir Adewale Shotobi, the Ayanbure of Ikorodu and Oba (Barr.) Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, have also facilitated and help in given thousands of residents food items.
It is also important to note that about 250 constituents of Ikorodu Federal Constituency were in the first week of the lockdown engaged on how to take economic benefits of the Coronavirus epidemic that is ravaging the country and sustain themselves thereafter.
The training which was facilitated by Hon. Babajimi Adegoke Benson, the representative of Ikorodu Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives in Abuja, trained beneficiaries who were divided into sessions for three days on making hand sanitizer, soap, paint, air freshner, izal among others for domestic and commercial purposes.
Beneficiaries of the training were provided N50, 000 each as startup capital to establish their business after the training.
While the above highlighted efforts by the government and individuals are commendable, many residents are still in need and are asking for help. From Ikorodu to Ipakodo, Igbogbo, Ibeshe, Agric, Owutu, Agbede, Ita Oluwo, Igbe, Gberigbe, Agura, Agura, Imota, Ijede, Imota, Odogunyan – LASPOTECH First gate to Eyita, the demands for more social interventions to ease the sufferings caused by the stay at home order have been on the rise on daily basis.
The continued request for more support has opened the floor for other privileged individuals who are yet to provide succour to the people to do so as way of complimenting the efforts by the government and other individuals who have identified with the downtrodden people across the division.
Among these individuals are those who are holding political offices in trust for the people and others that who had served at one point in time or the other.
Also, there are many individuals that have made names for themselves in private or corporate businesses who should give little out of their wealth to support the less privilege, especially during this trying period.
While we are calling on the Lagos State Government, its functionaries and other individuals that have lent their hands of fellowship in support of the people to do more, we are asking those that also have the financial to toe same line of philanthropism by reaching out to the less privilege in their respective localities at this critical period.
People need help in form of food and financial assistance for them to stay indoor and it is only when the masses adhere to the stay at home order that the reason for the lockdown of the State can achieved.
So, other privileged and wealthy individuals who are yet to reach out to the vulnerable people, where are you?
