Sanwo-Olu Announces More Stimulus Packages, To Feed 100k Youths, Cash To 250k Indigents

Lagos state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday, announced fresh stimulus packages to cushion the hardships Lagosians are passing through following the lockdown of the state by President Muhammadu Buhari to contain the deadly coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the state.

BIGPEN reports that the governor had at the wake of the earlier 14-days lockdown ordered by President Buhari, opened 50 neighbourhood food markets across the State to serve as makeshift groceries for residents to buy food items.

The establishment of the neighbourhood food markets was a follow-up to the creation of 10 food banks strategically positioned across the State, which is targeted at feeding over 200,000 vulnerable households that earn daily wage to feed.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, said that his administration would be deploying another set of relief items to 250, 000 vulnerable residents in additional to a feeding programme for 100,000 youths as well as conditional cash transfer to 250,000 people as part of the relief package.

In a post made on his verified Facebook page, Governor Sanwo-Olu, said, “Today, I announced more measures to cushion the effect of the extended lockdown in Lagos.

“We have begun the distribution of relief items to 250,000 vulnerable residents and in addition to this, 100,000 youths will be provided one meal per day across LCDAs via our food kitchens.

“We are also starting a conditional cash transfer to 250,000 people as part of our relief package while repayment on state facilitated loans to SMEs & MSMEs through LSETF will have a moratorium of 3 months to help ease the effects of the lockdown for businesses and their employees.

“To ensure we track and eliminate the risk of a spread of #COVID19, officials of LSMOH will be visiting our homes to obtain information on travel and health history of Lagosians and I implore you all to cooperate with them.

“LASTMA and VIO will also release all impounded vehicles for minor offences from March 1. All these will be done to reduce the impact of the lockdown on residents of the state.

“This period demands a bit of sacrifice from us all. Let us join hands to defeat #COVID19”, he added.

President Buhari had in his March 29, broadcast released N10 billion grant to the Lagos state, adjudged as the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the country.