Gov Babajide Sanwo-Olu
Since the deadly pandemic, Corona virus continue to ravage the global scene, the federal government, in a way to curb the spread of the disease, has imposed a total 14 days lock-down of Lagos and Ogun States, including the FCT. The Lagos State government, in its usual swift response   issues declared support for the residents of Lagos with branded food packs. The first phase of the Lagos State economic Stimulus package, which is 200,000 packs, was rolled out on Friday, 27th March, 2020, as scheduled to be distributed from one local government to the other. The state government announced CDAs/CDCs

(Community development associations/community development committees), religious leaders and NGOs to distribute food packages, be that as it may, it remained an announcement, distribution is observed to have been carried out by council chairmen, house of assembly members and political party leaders, in the previously distributed local governments, as such, Kosofe local government would follow the present state of affairs.

Reports have been trending in different local governments of the state, one is about how a pack of food and 2 loaves of bread was the share of a particular CDA, which comprises of over 60 houses, another CDA was allotted two bags of food stuff to be share

The package meant for a CDA comprising over 400 houses

d among over 400 houses, in Alimosho and there’s another case of a CDA who received 1kg of rice, 1kg of beans and 3 loaves of bread, in Agege. All the aforementioned cases made it unambiguous that Kosofe won’t be spoon-fed.

It would have been a fantastic idea, should the government embark on its pre-planned strategy for distribution of the economic stimulus food packages. The concept of using the local government councils and politicians for distribution of food stuff for the masses, is a failed attempt. This is an opportunity for politicians to enrich themselves or convert the state relief materials to personal gifts and souvenirs to cushion the hunger effect of the lockdown, in the community.
Moreso, for accountability sake, would it have been a bad idea if the number of food packs dispensed to each local government is made public? Who should be held responsible for what? Who are the watch dogs of this exercise? Who ensures the distribution of food products among the masses is even and seamless? Why do we have to politicize everything? Government, in the last administration, enjoys the service of community journalists, these are the watch-dogs of the society, and they project the people to the government and vice-versa, this sect, under the auspices of the Association of Practitioners of Community Media in Nigeria (APCOM), worked seamlessly with the Ambode-led administration. The result, is evident, every CDA and every community in the state can attest to the level of development and the impact of the media at the community level.

Politicians closing-up on casual workers who are bagging food products

Friday, 3rd of April, the day Kosofe is scheduled to secure its fraction of the state government’s economic stimulus largesse, the chairman of the LG council, Hon Babatunde Sofola, Hon Commissioner for Wealth Creation & Employment, Mrs Yetunde Arobieke, Lagos State House of Assembly member, Hon Sanni Ganeey Babatunde Sanni, were observed perambulating the venue of the distribution, Anglican Primary School, Ogudu. It was all written in their faces that they had little or no information about the situation on ground. The communication bridge between the state government and the local government, who has been tipped to carry out distribution of the economic stimulus package became evident. No clue of what the situation was, and the masses continued waiting endlessly. At about 6:01pm, while the teeming residents were still loafing the streets of Ogudu, for the gift promised them by the state government, one of the chairman’s aide informed the Kosofe Inside-Out crew through a phone call that the supply and distribution of the Lagos State economic stimulus package has been rescheduled till tomorrow, Saturday 5th April, 2020.
Two hours after the secret announcement was made, the chairman of Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, Hon Dele Oshinowo, through his publicity medium on facebook ‘Agboyi-Ketu Voice, published a statement where he gave no excuse for the flop, he assures the Agboyi-Ketu LCDA residents the arrival of the relief packages tomorrow.
Read statement below:
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
Covid-19 : Lagos Food Packs fail to land today in Agboyi-Ketu, arrival certain for tomorrow
Following an unexpected hiccup closing the chances of moving the food packs designated for Agboyi-Ketu today, the LCDA under the chairmanship of Mayor Dele Oshinowo wishes to inform the populace that the LCDA will receive the relief package tommorow.
In view of this, we wish to convey our sincere apologies to the targeted owners of these food packs, who are waiting anxiously to receive them,that is, the indigent and most vulnerable residents of our LCDA.
With the populace affirming the impartial drive of the Mayor Dele Oshinowo led-administration, we wish to assure all our esteemed citizens that the exercise would be conducted with all sincerity of purpose that it deserves.
Please note that the distribution of the relief package is geared towards cushioning the effect resulting from the lockdown.
Thank you for your kind understanding of the situation
E-signed
Mayor Dele Oshinowo
Executive Chairman, Agboyi-Ketu LCDA