COVID-19: Residents Laud Lagos Govt Seamless Distribution Of Relief Items

Lagos state has always assumed the position of big brother to other states of the federation, a position bestowed on its by its sheer economic robustness, and array of forward-thinking, forthright and visionary men managing its affairs. This exemplary leadership and trailblazing disposition came to the fore in the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, so effective and proactive is the state’s handling of the situation that the health minister, Osagie Ehinare, once suggested to other states to approach Lagos for hands-on experience on how to tackle the pandemic head-on.

The state has not only shown leadership in handling the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has also displayed an appreciable degree of effectiveness in tackling the concomitant impact of the scourge, part of which is the lockdown occasioned by the pandemic.

The state government under the leadership of governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu understands the need to give succour, physically and mentally, to the people in order to mitigate the crunching economic impact of the lockdown on residents of the states.

To this end, the state government rolled out social intervention scheme aimed at distributing palliatives and relief items to residents.

The first phase of the relief roll out was somewhat rancorous because of the seeming lack of organisation on the part of residents, where people were seen pushing and shoving as they scramble for their share of the relief items, a development that ran counter to the preventive measures put in place to check the spread of the disease and further jeopardise the health of the patients.

The situation was also aggravated by callous and avaricious politicians who hijacked the exercise by hence becoming chaotic and failing in reaching those it was intended.

The State government determined to address the inadequacies from the first exercise went back to the drawing board. They came up with more comprehensive and smooth arrangements in order to forestall the reoccurrence of such distasteful development.

This new arrangement of distribution of palliatives and relief items put in place by the government has proven effective and Seamless.

One of the beneficiaries of the relief items, Otunba T J Abass, the publisher of ekohotblog.com, narrated how Seamless and hitch-free the process of was.

He said  “Again, I was one of the chosen few, not because I needed the relief materials but the approach which the administration had chosen, in its bid to be fair and yet just.

” When I received a call on a Sunday afternoon that I should report at Ikeja local government to collect the package, that provided an opportunity to assess its efficiency and otherwise well-intentioned intervention.

On arrival and upon presentation of my LASTRA card and verification with the register, I was handed over a black bag. I don’t know the contents nor did I even bother to open it because I ended up giving the package to another person that truly needs it.  I was just excited about being a witness to an administration’s demonstration of care, and it was because of this that I duly followed all the laid-down protocols.

“For example, I was asked to append my signature in a register which had the names of all the recipients.

” I took a picture with the coordinator as evidence that I appeared in person to collect the items, protocols that ordinarily would have elicited some resentment.

” Suffice it to say that it was well planned and well-executed and it never mattered what you were asked to do.”.

It was indeed a successful exercise, he concluded.

In as much as the gesture of the state government is laudable, it’s, however, imperative that the state government does not lift the lockdown down. This is important because the state has witnessed a surge in the COVID-19 despite the lockdown, one can only imagine what the situation will look like if the state was not on lockdown.

A case in point is Ghana who suffered a spike in COVID-19 cases after it lifted its Lockdown. Close to home is Kano where a frightening and eerie tales of deaths have been divulged. Lagos with its population and potentials cannot afford to be caught off guard.

What the government should do now is to build on the success of its palliative measures and distribution of relief items so as to cover a significant number of residents. This will go a long way rendering the lockdown effective because à famished soul would defy the Stringent of Lockdown.

In light of the recent developments, Eko Hot Blog would suggest the extension of the lockdown in the state.

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