Why the Lagos State government should communicate with communities about COVID 19 – OSC

Some civil society organizations have praised the Lagos State government for the way it is handling the devastating COVID-19 pandemic in a state with an estimated population of 23 million people.

Gbenga Komolafe, General Secretary, Federation of Informal Workers of Nigeria (FIWON), Chief Raymond Gold, Coordinator, Housing and Community Improvement, Nigerian Federation of Slums/Slums (Federation), Dr. Taibat Lawawson, Center for Housing and Sustainable Development, University of Lagos, Dr. Temilade Sesan, Sankofa Policy Lab, Betty Abah, Center for Child Health Education,

Guidance and Protection (CEE-HOPE Nigeria), Olamide Udoma – Ejorh, Lagos Urban Development Initiative, Deji Akinpelu, Rethink Cities Initiative, Folashade Adeboyejo, POLYBRIQ and Segun Ogunleye, Urbanovate Enterprise, signed the issued press release.

According to CSOs, COVID-19 testing and advocacy is extended to low-income communities, with clear protocols for reporting and responding to suspected cases, considering that these communities are densely populated.

– That special interventions be prioritized in primary and secondary health care services, as well as the separation of suspected cases of COVID-19 from local communities to avoid a spiral of infections in densely populated areas and treat them safely.

We also note with concern that current palliatives are not having the desired effect, as their distribution is limited, leading to protests and violence in many low-income communities.

We therefore ask the LASG to consider the following proposals to achieve inclusive and sustainable Covid19 palliative care for the vulnerable:

– That LASG enables individuals, businesses and faith-based organizations with proven engagement in local communities to lead the distribution of material support to these communities.

– That LASG consider a financial support package for a limited time for duly registered small-scale trade and market cooperatives, which will be disbursed through individual BVN accounts. International Development Assistance can be used to offset the costs of such payments.

– That a mixed strategy of monetary transfer + in-kind support be considered for women in need, especially for the unbanked.

– Due to the fact that Lagos is dependent on food distribution networks from other parts of Nigeria and

further, that operational food distribution chains remain open, with local carriers and retailers allowed to move responsibly, during the lockdown period.

These food distributors and market women are providing essential services. We strongly recommend that the Neighborhood Corps and local market associations support the enforcement of social distancing protocols for both buyers and sellers at these markets.

Situations like these require price control measures to ensure price stability.

– That the Milla 12 merchants association normalize prices and keep them constant.

For this period, a subsidy mechanism can be established in which the government pays the difference to the merchants if they have to sell below the cost price.

– Ensure access to free water and handwashing stations in all overcrowded communities

– Ensure periodic waste cleanup in communities not covered by the PSPs and the LAWMA bridge project

– That special arrangements be made to provide temporary accommodation and food for the homeless in order to ensure social distancing and isolation requirements for this highly vulnerable layer of the population.

We acknowledge and commend the efforts of the Lagos State Government to contain and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 across the state.

We acknowledge the efforts of the state government to provide palliative care for the elderly and vulnerable, especially those whose livelihoods have been affected by market closures and travel restrictions. We see that the urban poor are the most vulnerable in this period of global health pandemic and economic uncertainty.

Constant displacement over the past decades has increased overcrowding in many low-income areas, making all mitigation measures even more necessary.

We salute the efforts of all individual and corporate entities supporting LASG’s efforts in these difficult times and gratefully acknowledge the solidarity of international donors and development organizations.