Some civil society organisations have counseled the Lagos state authorities on the way it’s dealing with the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic in a state with an estimated inhabitants of 23million folks.
Gbenga Komolafe, Secretary Normal, Federation of Casual Staff of Nigeria (FIWON), Chief Raymond Gold,Coordinator, Housing and Group Improve,Nigerian Slum / Casual Settlement Federation (Federation), Dr Taibat Lawawson, Centre for Housing and Sustainable Improvement, College of Lagos,.Dr. Temilade Sesan, Sankofa Coverage Lab, Betty Abah, Centre for Kids’s Well being Training,
Orientation and Safety (CEE-HOPE Nigeria), Olamide Udoma – Ejorh, Lagos City Improvement Initiative, Deji Akinpelu, Rethink Cities Initiative, Folashade Adeboyejo, POLYBRIQ and Segun Ogunleye, Urbanovate Enterprise, signed the press assertion issued.
Based on the CSOs, COVID-19 testing and advocacy be prolonged to low earnings communities, with clear protocols on reporting and responding to suspected instances outlined, taking into consideration that these communities are densely populated
– That particular interventions in main and secondary well being care providers are given precedence, in addition to separating suspected COVID-19 instances from native communities to keep away from a spiraling an infection within the densely populated areas and for treating them safely.
We additionally observe with concern that the present palliative measures aren’t reaching their desired impact, in that distribution is proscribed, thus propelling protest and violence in lots of low-income communities.
We due to this fact request the LASG to think about the next propositions to realize inclusive and sustainable Covid19 palliative take care of the susceptible:
– That LASG permits people, company and faith-based organisations with confirmed engagement in native communities to guide with the distribution of fabric assist to those communities
– That LASG ought to contemplate a time restricted monetary assist bundle to duly registered small-scale commerce and market cooperatives, which will probably be disbursed via particular person BVN accounts. Worldwide Improvement Help can be utilized to offset the prices of such funds
– {That a} combined technique of money switch +in sort assist be thought-about for the ladies in want, particularly for the unbanked.
– Attributable to the truth that Lagos depends on meals distribution networks from different components of Nigeria and
past, that the operative meals distribution chains be saved open – with transporters and native retailers allowed to maneuver round responsibly – through the lock down interval.
These meals distributors and market girls are rendering important providers. We particularly suggest that the Neighborhoods Corps and native market associations assist the enforcement of social distancing protocols for each consumers and sellers in these markets.
Conditions like these name for worth management measures that can guarantee worth stability
– That the Mile 12 merchants’ affiliation normalises costs and retains them fixed.
A subsidy mechanism through which authorities pays the distinction to merchants in the event that they must promote beneath the fee worth may be established for this era.
– That entry to free water and hand washing stations is ensured in all crowded communities
– That common clearing of waste is ensured in communities not coated by PSPs and LAWMA’s bridge undertaking
– That particular preparations needs to be made to offer non permanent lodging and feeding for the homeless in an effort to assure the necessities for social distancing and isolation for this very susceptible layer of the inhabitants.
We acknowledge and commend the efforts of the Lagos state authorities to comprise and mitigate the unfold of COVID-19across the state
We acknowledge the efforts of the state authorities to offer palliatives for the aged and susceptible, particularly these whose livelihoods have been disrupted by market closure and journey restrictions. We word that the city poor are probably the most susceptible on this interval of world well being pandemic and financial uncertainty.
Fixed displacements over the previous a long time have elevated overcrowding in lots of low -income areas, making all of the palliative measures much more obligatory.
We salute the efforts of all particular person and company entities supporting the efforts of LASG in these difficult instances and we gratefully acknowledge the solidarity of worldwide donors and improvement organisations.
