COVID-19: Nigerians are crying of hunger, community head tells FG

Mojisola Lawal

Community head of Otumara, Apapa road and its environs, High chief Kehinde Kalejaiye has called for a better welfare package for the citizens.

Kalejaiye made the call in the face of obvious suffering and hunger confronting many household in the country due to the presidential directive to lockdown Lagos, Abuja and Ogun state to contain the spread of coronavirus pandemic.

He disclosed that since the stay at home order, countless number of people throng his residence daily to request for food and money.

The community head stated that many people rely on them to feed and to take care of their medical needs.

He said, “People are crying of hunger. They now rely on us to feed and to take care of their medical needs. Between last week and today, I cannot count the number of people that have come to me begging for money to feed. This is inhuman.
How would they cope during the lockdown?

The government cannot force the people to stay at home without making any provision for them to feed.

Traders are at home. Okada riders and commercials bus drivers are at home. Everybody is at home with their mouth and children to feed but the government is insensitive to this.

But when they dare the government order to go out, they would be arrested for violating the order.

Let the government ensure that the people get the stimulus package to have something to feed. The government should have the interest of the citizens at heart.

The government should not allow them to die of hunger because of compulsory confinement they are thrown into by the government due to the coronavirus pandemic.

As a community leader, I am doing my part to ensure safety in our community.

Apart from the sensitisation and enlightenment campaign, I have distributed hand sanitizers to the people and food items to few people.

But ensuring the welfare of the generality of the people is the sole responsibility of the government.

People are hungry and I am yet to see the stimulus package of the Lagos state government.

The distribution should be handled by the Local Governments, community heads and the CDAs. This is how it is being down in developed countries.”

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