COVID-19: NGIJ Calls Gov. Sanwo-Olu’s Palliative Measures Disgraceful

By Akinwale Kasali

The Nigerian Guild of Investigate Journalists, NGIJ, have condemned, in its entirety, the palliative measures put in place by the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration for Lagosians.

The Guild berated the Lagos state government for adopting a weak and defective approach in handling lockdown palliative measures, especially, the disgraceful emergency food pack distribution. It, however said the governor has performed  well in curtailing the COVID-19 pandemic so far.

This lapse, the Guild lamented, has resulted in widespread condemnation for the government as well as allegations of negligence and insensitivity from the residents of the state, including the Community Development Association, CDA, representatives and the general public who received beggarly and pitiful portions of foodstuff during the distribution.

A statement on Monday by Israel Bolaji, Vice President (Information and Strategy) of the Guild, said whereas the state government’s efforts at curtailing the pandemic were commendable, its palliative measures for residents especially the emergency food pack currently being distributed to residents is disgraceful, poor and ineffective, charging Gov. Sanwo-Olu to urgently revisit and overhaul the lockdown palliative plan.

Bolaji stressed that as expected and applicable globally, Lagos State government came up with an apt idea of providing food, especially, for aged parents, widows, widowers and less privileged households with an emergency food pack.

However, the selective distribution approach is shrouded in mystery, beggarly food pack quantities, lack of transparency and alleged large scale diversion of the food packs by officials, making a mess and mockery of the entire process.

Bolaji said the Guild was shocked and appalled by the various reports and the attendant disillusionment generated.

He added that the Guild has been inundated with reports, viral video accounts and verified cases of residents receiving pitiful food packs, including multiple videotaped cases of two sachets of tomatoes, and two bowls of rice and beans given to an entire street.

For example, there are embarrassing accounts from Ijede communities under Ikorodu constituency made up of 127 CDA, where each of the CDAs was asked to compile a list of names of aged parents, widow, less privileged and widower with at least 40 in some and some between 50 and 80 names submitted since last week Sunday.

“Surprisingly on Saturday only five packs were handed for 80 persons for my own CDA”,  one of the CDA representatives disclosed.

“In my CDA at Agege where 40 names were forwarded, 5packs for 40 persons. I did not know what is going on because personally, the government is not fair to us. If they want the emergency food to go around I believe religious bodies, stakeholders and Royal father should be part of the programme, said another source.

“Many of the CDAs here did not have at all, a source said, adding that the local government chairman kept the food packs for sharing to their members later.”

The Guild, however, charged the government to show more sensitivity to the people considering that the lockdown had crippled the economic activities as well as the sources of livelihood for many residents.

In as much the government may not choose to share food packs to all residents, a basic threshold is at least expected to be met, the Statement reads.

Bolaji furthermore stressed that giving five units of very small food pack to an entire street of about 2000 people amounts to reckless insensitivity, humiliation and travesty.

He urged the state government to urgently rejig the entire plan, make sufficient units available, work with trusted social and community leaders, block leakages and reverse the deplorable trend.

“We also urge the government to be transparent in handling the disbursement of the various donations from well-meaning Nigerians, philanthropists and multinationals that have donated handsomely to cushion the impact of the crises.”