To mitigate the debilitating effect of the deadly Coronavirus, Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has unveiled a food provision project for the indigent and most vulnerable in the state.
In a statement through his official Twitter page, governor Sanwo-Olu said the food items which will be provided in form of packs, will be distributed to every local government in the state.
According to him, the items will aid in cushioning the effects of the 14 days stay-at-home directive recently issued by the state government to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking after an assessment of one of the state-owned food banks in the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives in Agege, Agege local government area, Mr Sanwo-Olu said the economic stimulus will reduce the burden of the temporary economic downturn on the residents as well as re-assure them of government’s efforts to ensure the safety of lives during these trying times.
Governor Sanwo-Olu said the food packs will reach the most vulnerable communities and households across Lagos.
Noting that indigents who rely on daily wages will be given priority, Sanwo-Olu said “the package will touch at least 200,000 households in the first phase, adding that the food packs are produced for a size of six people per household and would last for at least fourteen days”.
On distribution modality, the commissioner of agriculture, Gbolahan Lawal, said the government would be working with the existing database of the state – using the Lagos State Social register and 4,000 community development association registers in 377 wards.
Lagos has 52 out of 81 index cases already recorded by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) as at Saturday, March 28, 2020.