Kunle Adelabu
Leadership and members of the road transport unions in Ikorodu have commended the Lagos State Government for the ‘Lagos Food kitchen’ initiative introduced to cushion the effects of the COVID – 19 lockdown on the citizenry.
They spoke with THE IMPACT on Wednesday, April 29, at their respective garages during the distribution of the packed food.
The ‘Lagos Food kitchen’ programme commenced in Ikorodu on April 22, 2020, following the announcement made by the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during a briefing that followed the Security Council meeting held at the State House in Marina, on Tuesday, April 14,2020.
Otunba Waliu Daisi, the Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Union (NURTW), described the initiative as laudable, adding that it has helped in reducing tension among commercial transport employees most of whom are youths and who are also affected by the lockdown.
He commended the government for the relief and requested for the increase in the number of the food packs allocated to Ikorodu because of the population.
“In fact, it is a very nice progarmme. It is a fantastic and laudable idea that has greatly helped to reduce tension because we have been able to feed the boys in our garages as they have not been working since the commencement of the lockdown”, Otunba Waliu said.
“We appreciate the gesture but lkorodu is very large in terms of population and our boys are very many. We want the government to increase the food packs being allocated to lkorodu so that we can feed these boys and prevent them from misbehaving”.
He stated that the initiative by the government has complimented the efforts of the leaders of the unions whom he said have been responsible for the daily feeding of their boys.
“The little that we are receiving from them (Lagos Kitchen Food) are what we are using to calm our boys down in various garages and areas.
“I cannot specifically give the number of boys that we have been taking care of daily before this government’s feeding programme commenced. Even, this feeding programme cannot go round them.
“Even our overall leader, Chief Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya, has also been providing relief materials for us and we have been distributing them to these guys.
“We spent money on these guys on daily basis and it has been very tough but we thank government for this gesture”.
Otunba Waliu appealed for more consideration for Ikorodu while the lockdown lasted.
“We want Lagos State Government to empower Ikorodu more and also make more provision for our people so that they will not go hungry”, he appealed.
Alhaji Ayodele Omoyele, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Branch Chairman, Ikorodu E, in his reaction, corroborated Otunba Waliu’s statement.
He stated that the programme has helped in providing daily food for their boys whom he said have been unable to work due to the lockdown by providing daily food for day.
“It is a programme that is well thought-out. We all appreciate the gesture in lkorodu. Ikorodu is a very large part of the state with many garages and areas and we have boys that are affected by the lockdown.
“All our boys appreciated the programme and we want government to continue with the feeding programme”.
He also requested for the increase in the food packs being allocated to Ikorodu because of the population of the affected boys and families in various garages in the community.
“The food packs they are giving our boys daily is not enough but we want government to improve on the allocated so that more of our boys would be fed. God will help them to be able to do more”, Alhaji Omoyele appealed.
Also, the Chairman of Ikorodu Commercial Motorcycle Riders, popularly called, ‘Okada’, Mr Kayode Pashoku, popularly called, ‘Jendor’, also commended the feeding programme by the State government while also called on the government to improve on the feeding gesture.
The leadership of the unions in Ijede and Imota Local Council Development Areas also commended the Lagos Government for the initiative.
Cross section of road transport employees at various parks that benefited from the ‘’Lagos Food kitchen’ also commended the government for the initiative and also thanked their leadership for facilitating it.
Some Muslims among them stated that they have been breaking their fast with the food being supplied by the committee.
Hon. Azeez Jimoh Olosugbo, who is Coordinating the feeding programme in Ikorodu, stated that thousands of motor boys and others in identified areas in Ikorodu division have fed through the feeding programme.
“Through this programme initiated by the state government which commenced last week, we have been able to feed thousands of youths, especially those at garages that were affected by the lockdown”, he said.
“These are boys that have not been able to earn anything in the last one month that the lockdown commenced. In actual fact, the boys embraced the programme and are always calling us on daily basis to know if they are going to be fed.
“We also catered for boys that are not in garages but in areas that are also affected by the lockdown”.
He also commended the leadership of the unions for the maximum support and cooperation given to the feeding programme committee.
Garages where youths were fed with Lagos Food Kitchen (white rice, jollof rice, eba, bread and beans) were Ikorodu garage roundabout, Ogolonto, Agric, Ijede, Imota, Odogunyan, Agbede, Adamo, Itamaga, Sabo, Ibeshe and Gberigbe/Agura among others.
Areas and bases that Sabo, Isikalu, Solomade, Ipakodo, Ebute – Iga, Igbogbo, California, Adaraloye junction, Ita Aro, Ajina, Ladega, Ojuboe, Laketu, Benson, Munirat Aleje, Grammar School, Maya, Agbede, Majidun, and Yemetu among others.
