Kunle Adelabu
Hon. Nurudeen Solaja, the member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Ikorodu Constituency II, on Thursday, April 30, 2020, commenced the second phase of the distribution of his COVID-19 lockdown relief materials as well as Ramadan packages to his constituents.
The lawmaker, who is the Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Public Accounts, speaking with selected media houses on Thursday (yesterday) at his residence where the food items were packed for distribution to 7000 residents who cut across the three towns in his Constituency namely- Imota, Igbogbo and Ijede, stated that the distribution exercise would be done street – by – street in the thirteen political wards in the constituency in order to reach more vulnerable people and attain even distribution.
Inside distributed packages were rice, garri, indomie, sphagetti, whaet and semovita.
He stated that he was not satisfied with the reach of the first phase of the distribution of the relief materials meant to cushion the effects of the lockdown, hence, the second phase.
Hon Solaja also clarified that the packages which according to him, were meant for the generality of his constituents, were to serve as both Ramadan and relief packages.
“Actually, this is supposed to be distribution of Ramadan packages for the Muslim faithful but because the first phase of the distribution of the stimulus packages to relief our people of the COVID – 19 lockdown challenges did not reach where we intended them to reach, I deemed it fit to double what we distributed earlier in order to reach both of those that are observing Ramadan fasting and those that are in need of relief but who we have not been able to reach before”, he clarified.
“These packages are not only meant for Muslims but constituents residing within Ikorodu Constituency II”.
While stating that groups and institutions that would benefit have been identified, the lawmaker also added that the relief materials would be distributed from street to street in the constituency to achieve an even spread.
“Before now, we have identified individuals, places and groups like palaces, Baales, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), League of Imams, special people, youths, market women and men and Community Development Committee (CDC) as beneficiaries of the relief materials”, Hon. Solaja said.
“After that, we will go from street to street across the thirteen Wards and we are going to make sure that the distribution is evenly distributed among the Wards. There won’t be a street that we will not touch”, he assured.
“The minimum that we plan to distribute per Ward are 10 bags for ten people/families on a street.
“We understand that many in the interior are yet to be reached in terms of the palliative packages. This is why we planned to distribute the items to every street in all our Wards and there is no single part of the Constituency that does not fall into a particular Ward.
“I have been able to meet with the stakeholders in all areas, party, CDC as well as the Baales and they have given us their lists of names with phone numbers.
“As I said earlier, I am going to touch every part of the constituency”, he assured.
Speaking on the new measures introduced by the governor when the lockdown is relaxed next Monday, Hon. Solaja said that he agreed with the law passed by the Assembly on the novel coronavirus.
“What the Governor (Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu) said during the week on the review of the lockdown and measures stipulated were in line with what the Assembly members did under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa.
“The Assembly has made law to regulate the outbreak of the COVID – 19 pandemic and anybody that violate it will face its consequences.
“The pronouncement affected Okada, Marwa and others. Okada operation is suspended and Marwa (tricycle) cannot carry more than two passengers and they must use face masks”, he restated.
“These are ways to maintain social distancing which is primarily in our own interests because Governor’s children do not board Marwa or Okada.
“They are for me and you and we need to follow the rules and laws of the state made by the Assembly that is consists of 40 members elected to represent their people”, he said.
In his Ramadan message to his constituents, Hon. Solaja enjoined residents to pray for the country at this trying times.
“I enjoin people to follow the rules and regulations as stipulated in the Quran. I also want to urge individuals to pray for their wards, local governments, state and the country at large because we have lot of predicaments”.
