Lagos State government said, on Monday, that the Ramadan edition of the emergency neighbourhood food markets for residents, essentially to address the problem associated with the lockdown and the promotion of social distancing in the fight against the spread of the dreaded COVID-19 in the state comes up on Wednesday, April 22, 2020.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, disclosed this, explaining that the neighbourhood food markets would hold in 27selected public schools within 14 local government areas of the state.
The commissioner pointed out that the neighbourhood food markets were basically set up in order to provide Lagosians access to food supplies during the lockdown with a view to preventing panic buying in line with the state governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s directives closing all markets and stores trading in non-essential commodities.
He added that the makeshift markets within the neighbourhood are platforms for families that do not have the capacity to buy foodstuffs in bulk to have access to a market during the current lockdown in the state.
Lawal explained that the markets would enable shoppers to buy produce and other everyday needs such as beverages, vegetables, fish, poultry products, bread and other essential needs at competitive, affordable and farm gate prices.
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According to him, the selected schools within which the markets are situated are: St Judes Primary School, Ilasamaja; Ilupeju Primary School, Town Planning Way, Illupeju; Papa Ajao Primary School all in Mushin Local Government; Local Government Primary School, Idimu; Meiran Community Primary School, Meiran in the Alimosho Local Government area; Sijuade Primary School, Ijesatedo; Lagos Progressive Primary School, Mbah Street, Surulere; Obele Secondary School, Lawanson; and Aguda Grammar School, Aguda all in the Surulere Local Government area.
Others are Ikeja Primary School; Opebi Primary School, Ikeja; United Christian Primary School, Marine Beach; Ijora Oloye Primary School; Ire Akari Nursery and Primary School II, Iganmu all in the Apapa Local Government Area of the State; St Jude Primary School, Ebute Meta; Fagba Junior Grammar School, Iju; Stadium Junior Grammar School, Ifako; Ikota Primary School, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Ikota; St George’s Primary School, Ikoyi; Araromi Baptist School, Beckley Road; Lagos Island; St Emmanuel Primary School, Ogudu; Ajao Estate School, Anthony; Sam Ethnan Airforce Base, Ikeja and Ejigbo Model Primary School, Ejigbo.
The commissioner noted that other schools are: St Theresa Roman Catholic Primary School, Epe; Awolowo Way, Oke Oyinbo, Epe; Anglican Primary School, Aradagun/Mosafejo Aworo/Ajido Road, Badagry; and Government Technical College, Awolowo Way, Oke Ota-Ona, Ikorodu.
Lawal urged Muslims to use the opportunity of this year’s Ramadan for inner reflection, self-discipline and self-improvement by offering prayers to God for the end of the current COVID-19 pandemic in Lagos State in particular and the world in general.
He also enjoined residents to take individual responsibility during this lockdown period by acting positively so that the chain of COVID-19 transmission could be broken in the state.