Kunle Adelabu
In furtherance of his support for the vulnerable constituents who may have been badly affected by the effects of the ravaging COVID – 19 pandemic, the Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Mr Adetokunbo Mikhail Abiru, has announced his monthly relief support programme.
Announcing his COVID Relief Support package at a meeting with the 16 Chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Local Government Area and Chairman of the Chairmens’ Forum in each LGA at his District in Ikorodu on Saturday, January 23, Sen. Abiru said that he will be touching lives of about 2000 vulnerable people in the district every two months.
He charged the LGA, Ward Chairmen and others saddled with the responsibilities of collating names of beneficiaries to be fair and just to the constituents.
While the 98 Ward Chairmen in Lagos East will nominate ten beneficiaries to benefit for January edition of the relief, the 16 LGA Chairmen, party leaders, the traditional rulers, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Muslim bodies across the Senatorial District are also expected to nominate ten beneficiaries each for the February edition.
The two categories, according to Abiru, will alternate the receipt of the relief sum every month.
Abiru announced that for the COVID Relief Support, he will give N5, 000 each to beneficiaries which include vulnerable constituents such as widows, people with special needs, aged, women and unemployed youth/state boys.
“We will be touching close to 2000 lives every two months. That is what our capacity can bear for now and I am sure that we are starting this January and if we have to miss it, it will be because of collating data but it will be done”, he assured.
“Our first programme will be COVID relief support”, he announced.
“The virus is real and it has affected everyone in one way or the other. Even, children that are going to school are no longer engaging more people again due to the pandemic. Their schools are just been reopened due to COVID and that is their own share of the pandemic
“It affected adults in terms of economics because various businesses were affected whether you are a big man, middle man or whatever position that you can think of. It has affected everybody”.
He stated that the relief support is his own way to further rendering succor to the people like he did during the lockdown last year when he never thought that he would be a Senator.
“For us, it is how we can assist in a convenient and whatever way. Our plan with the COVID Relief Support is to do something that is equitable across the 98 wards”, he said.
“The intention is for each ward in the 98 wards to come up with 10 names of vulnerable people within their locality and in coming up with those names, there are people who must be included such as a widow, people with special needs, adult that is vulnerable, a woman that is also vulnerable and an unemployed youth”, Sen. Abiru emphasized.
“The ten nominees from each ward must reflect these attributes. It is in your hands and I will not dictate to you. I want you to be fair to our people.
“The whole idea is for each ward to submit the ten names of the beneficiaries with phone numbers, bank account, bank names and their LGAs.
“The plan is to give them N5000 every other month”, he stated.
“We are talking about 980 people. That is what my power can accommodate for now and it is in our hands to identify the beneficiaries.
“I wish that I can do more and we will try to make it as seamless as possible by not asking Eredo people to be coming to Ikorodu to get their benefits. It is meant to provide relief for our people. All that you have to do is to forward the list generated to a phone number that will be provided for you and the list will go into our database.
“Be rest assured that beneficiaries will confirm the receipt of the relief support to you if you can get those lists across to us by next week (this week)”, he assured.
“What you will do is to get those names between now and Friday and we just work a programme with the bank to credit them directly.
“This arrangement for wards will be Category A, while the Category B which will include party LGA chairmen, party leaders, religious groups and traditional rulers. They are expected to submit their own nominees from each local government.
“When we disbursed for Category A in January by the grace of God, it will be the turn of Category B in February and again, it will be the turn of A in March. That is how we are going to alternate the arrangement”, Sen. Abiru explained.
Sen. Abiru and wife had in April 2020 during the COVID – 19 pandemic lockdown distributed a well –packaged food items across the Ikorodu Division which benefitted about 12, 000 households.
The distribution, which was handled by the Otunba Ganiyu Abiru led Ikorodu – Oga Development Association (IKODASS), was described as the most impactful and organized palliatives by any individual during the challenging period.
