COVID-19: Govt must also provide for the vulnerable ― Sanwo-Olu

Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday, declared that responsibility of the government goes beyond protection of life and property of its citizens, saying it also needed to provide for the needs of vulnerable, among them.

Sanwo-Olu made this declaration at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, while presenting cheques of various sums ranging from N500,000 to N5 million each to 50 needy Lagosians at the 2nd edition of a programme tagged: “Sanwo-Olu Listens.”

Beneficiaries include; Mr Oluyinka Ogundaisi of the Village Fame, who played Baba Eleran role, Oyinlola Lawal, a university undergraduate; Mr Sulaiman Salami, a vulcanizer and an Islamic cleric, Tajudeen Salau, among others.

The governor, who assured Lagosians of good governance, stated that his administration would continue to listen to the citizens in order to provide for their needs and protect lives and properties.

“Sanwo-Olu Listens Initiative is a social welfare programme design to provide financial assistance to vulnerable citizens of Lagos State and we are very passionate about it. Apart from this, we have other programmes related to this which border on caring and providing for the needs of our citizens,” the governor said.

Special Adviser to the governor on Civil Engagement, Princess Aderemi Adebowale, in her welcome address, said “Sanwo-Olu Listens Initiative” was a demonstration of the continuous aspiration of his administration to support struggling individuals in the state to cushion the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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According to her, a lot of people need financial assistance to solve a diverse number of challenges ranging from chronic ailments, varying degrees of disasters occasioned by unforeseen situations, to loss of jobs and businesses as a result of the prevalence of COVID-19 pandemic, saying the monitoring team from the Office of Civic Engagement went round the beneficiaries to ensure that the money given to them was used for the purpose it was meant for.

“It is an understatement that a lot of people need financial assistance to solve a diverse number of challenges ranging from chronic ailments, varying degrees of disasters occasioned by unforeseen situations, to loss of jobs and businesses as a result of the prevalence of COVID-19 pandemic which the second wave we are experiencing now across the globe is more deadly than the first wave.

“It, therefore, gladdens my heart to report here that 50 indigent Lagosians who were beneficiaries of the first phase of the programme held on Tuesday 11th August 2020 have done well. The monitoring team from the Office of Civic Engagement went round the beneficiaries to ensure that the money given to them by the Governor. Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu was used for the purpose it was meant for,” she said.

One of the beneficiaries, the 58-year-old, Mr Oluyinka Ogundaisi, aka Baba Eleran of the Village Headmaster, narrated how he moved around on a wheelchair, due to collapsed spine, which according to him required N500,000 monthly to be attended to after undergoing surgery.

Mr Olalekan Lawal from Ayobo-Ipaja, came to represent his son, Oyinlola, a university undergraduate, who is currently undergoing heart surgery that amounted to N12million in India.

Lawal, a pensioner, who said he was quite disturbed by the situation as he did not know where to source money from, but was later directed to the Office of Civic Engagement, expressed appreciation to the governor, commending him on the initiative while praying God to listen to all his silent prayers.

Mr Salami, another beneficiary and a vulcanizer, whose wife gave birth to triplets, expressed relief over the next intervention coming from Governor Sanwo-Olu.

An Islamic cleric, Salawu from Mushin, thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu for the support on accommodation, promise to facilitate empowerment for his wife so that the family can fend for their needs.

A highly elated Salau had narrated how he had to resort to sleeping inside a mosque while his wife and four children took abode in a vehicle as there was no other place to lay their heads.

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COVID-19: Govt must also provide for the vulnerable ― Sanwo-Olu