Kunle Adelabu
-Charges residents to go for Coronavirus test
The Executive Chairman of the Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area, Builder Sesan Daini has stated that the ‘MaskUpLagos’ directive is paramount to the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic that has brought social and economic lives of the state to standstill for about a month.
The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had last week announced that the use of facemask in the state would be made mandatory for residents as part of the state government ‘s measures in curtailing the spread of the deadly virus.
Daini addressed selected journalists on Monday, April 27, 2020, to give update on the council’s activities since the outbreak of COVID – 19 pandemic and the consequent lockdown ordered to contain its spread.
The press briefing, which was tagged, ‘Igbogbo/Bayeku’s Briefing On The Journey So Far’, was held at the Council’s Secretariat after the executive council meeting.
“The major thing that is paramount now is what the Governor of the State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called ‘MaskUpLagos’, which implies that we should all be on mask and use it at all time and try as much as possible to respect and obey other guidelines as stipulated by the federal and state governments like the social distancing; stay – at –home directive because it’s only when you stay – at – home that you can stay safe, save your family and community and also save your own life too”, he said while charging residents of the council on strict adherence to measures.
“As you can see right now that l am on facemask and so are every member of the exco. We have decided at the exco that we are going to be producing a lot of facemasks to be giving to our people free of charge in support of the state government’s fight against the Coronavirus spread.
“The council is going to produce and distribute the facemasks to residents in support of the five million facemasks being produced by the state. This we shall do continuously and enforce their usage, especially at public outings in line with the guidelines of the state”, he assured.
“We had discussion on the ravaging pandemic and our state, Lagos, is one of the badly hit by the Coronavirus and the role of the local government in supporting the state and federal governments in curtailing the spread of the virus.
“We invited the Council’s Medical Officer (MoH), Dr Olaitan, and the Head of the Council’s Environment Department, Mrs Olorunisola, to brief the exco on the journey so far and what are expected of us in the coming weeks.
“They have given us their views and also made requests on what they needed”.
He stated that the council would continue with the fumigation exercise of public places.
“I want to say that the council will continue with the fumigation exercise and do other necessary things in supporting the state to fight this cause”.
Speaking on the provision of relief packages for residents of the council during the lockdown, Builder Daini stated that his administration has provided food items and monetary support for the people in need.
“We have equally engaged in giving support to our people that are actually in need and we would not stop at what we have been doing in giving food and financial assistance to our people that are vulnerable.
“After the distribution of the stimulus packages that was well covered, we have also given out financial support and also done other batches of welfare packages”, he said.
“We would continue to give support within the capacity of the council and make sure that our people have relative comfort and ensure that we take part of the bane of the stay at home order imposed on them.
“We also discussed giving support to our people medically in line with the conditions that have been given by the state which we are ready to comply with”.
Speaking on the state of security within the council, he announced that the council has concluded plan to institute community policing in conjunction with the Nigeria police.
“During the exco meeting, we equally invited Mr Balogun, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Igbogbo Road Police of Ikorodu Division.
“We discussed extensively the role of the police in securing the council. They have done very well. They have been wonderful and we thank them for the relative peace that we have been enjoying in Igbogbo recently.
“They have told us their challenges which we are going to address and give maximum attention to.
“We equally discussed the local/community policing which he (DPO) has been working on and our exco members have equally approved it.
“We also told him that we need one or two community policing structure to give support to what our police are doing in making sure that we handle and arrest challenges in our LCDA, security wise”.
The young council administrator also charged residents of the council to continue to abide with necessary measures stipulated by the government in its fight against the Coronavirus.
“At the meeting, we also discussed about making sure that our people obey and respect the guidelines given by the government regarding the prevention of the spread of the Coronavirus.
“I must commend our people for complying with the stay – at – home order of the government. We have been monitoring and making sure that they comply and we shall continue to do that”.
He thanked the traditional rulers within the council and the state governor for their support during the lockdown.
“We thank the Kabiyesi who has been so supportive in this regard and other community leaders.
“We also commend the support of the Mr Governor, Mr Sanwo-Olu Babajide, for the council. We really appreciate and thank him for really standing up to the challenges and making Lagos proud and making sure that Lagos is above the common excellence and actually live up to its billing as the centre of excellence”.
Speaking on the testing capacity of the Igbogbo Primary Heath Centre which is one of the two Coronavirus Sampling Centres in Ikorodu Division, Hon. Daini stated that the responses of the people would determine the testing capacity.
He added that the council has resolved to embark on enlightenment campaign to tell residents on why they must embrace the test.
“In terms of the testing capacity at our PHC, that would be determined by the interest shown by the people.
“We have decided to embark on public enlightenment on why people should show interest and get themselves tested for the deadly virus”, he said.
“In 1981 when the issue of HIV/AIDS started across the globe, people were afraid to do the test but now, it is a common thing that people do. They now go to hospital to get themselves tested quarterly to know their status.
“People might be afraid of doing Coronavirus now, and we have decided at the exco meeting to embark on public sensistisation to educate our people that knowing their status is important. It is not a life sentence to be positive but a means to help victims to fight and win that virus attack”, he stated while emphasizing the importance of the test.
While stating that the council’s PHC is ready for the sampling exercise, Hon Daini also stated that the guidelines stipulated by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) would strictly be followed in carrying out the tests within the council facility.
“On the readiness of our PHC for the test, we are ever ready. Before the state government can pick the facility, they would have done their due diligence and be sure that the place is ready and fit for what they want to use it for.
“How many to be tested per day depends on the number of people that show up and the guidelines of the NCDC test on COVID – 19”, he assured.
On the extension of the lockdown by a week, the council chairman said that the council is waiting for the governor’s directive on how to manage the challenges.
“Extending the lockdown is beyond the local government. It is a federal government decision and the governor is capable of putting strategies in place to maintain the state.
“The council will be waiting for the directive of the state on how to manage and cope with the coming challenges of COVID – 19″.
Responding to question on the enforcement of the government’s directive on social distancing, especially regarding some churches and mosques that are breaching the order, Builder Daini charged the residents to provide useful information by alerting the council whenever and wherever such is happening.
“I am not aware of any church or mosque doing vigil or jumat within the LCDA. Those that we are aware of were stopped and we called in the police to arrest them and follow due process.
“What we have been telling people and shall continue to tell them is to give relevant information of such cases. Let’s be aware of churches or mosques contravening the social distancing rule and you can be assured that we will respond to it”, he appealed.
He extended greetings to the Muslims who are observing Ramadan fasting, urging them to use the period to pray for divine intervention in dealing with the pandemic.
“I greet all my Muslim brothers and sisters and appeal to them that they should use this season to pray to God in cleansing our lands, walk through our lands and heal it”.
