Lagosians, earlier this week were urged to be patience with Lagos State Government and the people of Somolu too were also told to cooperate with the Local Government to enable the COVID-19 palliatives to go deeper and spread wider during this pandemic lockdown.
The appeal was made by the Executive Chairman of Somolu Local Government, Hon. Abdul Hamed Salawu while he was on the popular Yoruba Current Affairs Programme on Lagos Television, “Oro to nlo”, yesterday. The programme which was anchored by the ace broadcaster, Mrs Toyin Bamisaiye-Oni, was centred on the intervention of Local Governments to the grassroots during this Coronavirus pandemic lockdown, as a complement to the efforts of Lagos State Government.
The Mayor appreciated Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for ensuring that all the 57 councils in Lagos State arranged thousands of food items as a stimulus package to the residents of their areas. According to Hon. Salawu, giving such stimulus to vulnerable people who are residents of his local government is logical as stakeholders have to be involved to identify those that truly need the food items.
“CDC/CDAs, past and present council chiefs were also involved in the distribution of the food items in their areas while our House of Assembly member, (Hon. Rotimi Olowo) was also involved, in some areas too to identify the people that should get such food items”, the Mayor added that 10,000 packs of garri, rice and beans were distributed.
However, the Council’s helmsman said distribution of food items has been part of his administration in Somolu Local Government since he assumed office in July 2017, he said 1,500 food packs of rice, beans and garri are presented to elderly people of 60 and above in Somolu as their monthly welfare package (Ounje Agba).
When asked if the food items shared in Somolu was enough for the people in Somolu, the Mayor said Somolu has more than 402,000 residents according to Nigerian Census of 2006 which may make it difficult to share food items to the vulnerable among them at a time. He further stated that more efforts will be made in subsequent food sharing and distributions as street captains will be selected by each street to represent their street. “The street captains will help to identify the vulnerable people within their streets and their cooperation will make the distribution go deeper and spread wider”, Dullar said.
The Mayor had earlier met with Tailors Association in Somolu and he assured them of continuous support of the government. They got some food items and they also urged the Local Government Chairman to patronise local tailors in Somolu as they are doing their business in Somolu and prompt in their rates and levies to the government. Hon. Abdul Hamed Salawu assured the tailors of government’s patronage as soon as the pandemic lockdown is over.
Moreover, the Council Mayor urged residents to be security conscious to help the security operatives perform better and promptly through information gathering and community involvement during this lockdown and beyond. He also advises residents of Somolu to go to Wright Primary Healthcare Center in Somolu for their COVID-19 test as instructed by Lagos State Government.
