The Lagos State government has introduced a new feeding scheme that will “Largely affect the youths” as part of measures to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown extension in the state.
This was gathered by Real-Time24 at a press briefing by Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on the COVID-19 pandemic. The Governor said the state government plans to feed no fewer than 100,000 youths daily.
He noted that food kitchens in all the councils in the state have been given the target of providing one meal per day to 100,000 youths. He also stated that the feeding scheme would be transparent, and indicated that the state government would continue to roll out various palliatives to cushion the effect of the lockdown on citizens.
“I am pleased today to announce additional palliatives for our citizens to further ameliorate the inconvenience occasioned by this extended lockdown.
“ In the next couple of days, we will commence a daily ”Food Kitchen” programme, which will aim to feed about 100,000 people daily.”
“We are identifying local food vendors who will pilot this programme, and ensure that the process of cooking and serving of the meals adhere strictly to public health guidelines,” he stated.
According to the Governor, the government is also updating its data from the various social registers to get a “clean” list of truly vulnerable and economically challenged persons to enable it remit some cash to them; as the state intends to do the cash transfers by the end of the week to a minimum of 250,000 indigent citizens.
At the briefing also, Sanwo-Olu issued an order to the Police, LASTMA and the VIO to release all vehicles impounded for minor traffic offences from March 1, 2020 to date.
He said that the decision to release the vehicles was taken as a result of the end of the initial 2 weeks lockdown.
He further announced that all those who benefited from the “Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as well as the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) or the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) loans and other government programme loans will enjoy a three month moratorium”. This, according to him, will further help to cushion the effect of halting of economic activities occasioned by the lockdown.
The Governor noted that when the first stay-at-home directive was issued, a welfare package for the indigent population and vulnerable segment of the society was announced and that the initiative encountered some hitches.
He explained that in the first and second phases of the programme, the government was able to reach over 200,000 households, which included the vulnerable, physically challenged and the elderly.
“During this time as well, we were also able to feed a large number of the organized informal sector; junior members of the military and police force in Lagos, and minimum wage earners in the state’s public service”, the Governor stated.
He further announced medical palliative for all those that needed to access medical care during the lockdown, including childbirth services for expectant mothers.
It was revealed that over 18,000 people have accessed the free medical services in line with the directive, and added that they have recorded over 600 childbirths – all free of charge.