Lagos to embark on state-wide fumigation exercise as it hands out food items to 200,000 families

LAGOS State government has stepped up the fight against coronavirus by planning to fumigate the entire state over the next week and handing out essential food items to residents in a bid to cushion the effects of the stay-at-home order.

Serving as the treatment centre for the virus, Lagos has one of the two coronavirus testing centres in Nigeria and is leading the way with combating the pandemic. Earlier this week, the state government converted the Onikan Stadium into an isolation centre for the affected and yesterday, this was backed up with a fumigation plan.

Governor Babajide Sanwoolu has already commenced the distribution of bags of rice, beans and Vitamin C to cushion the effects of the stay-at-home order. Yesterday, he carried out an on-the-spot assessment of one of the state-owned food banks in Agege area of the state, explaining that the measure was to further encourage people to stay at home to curtail the spread of the virus.

"We are here for an on-the-spot assessment of our readiness, to see how we can fast track some of our stimulus package for our citizens. These people are those that fall below the pyramid, the aged and the physically challenged who need to move from one part of the city to another for them to have a living.

“We have packaged dry food stimulus for about 200,000 families in the first instance for a household of husband, wife and about four children. We would be giving bags of rice, bags of beans, garri, bread, dry pepper and we are trying to see if we can add water and some elements of vitamin C.

“Each ration, we believe is going to be able to last them at least minimum 14 days just so our advocacy around stay at home, stay with your loved ones will be respected. This is a catalytic initiative of our administration with the hope that well-meaning corporate organisations and private individuals can step up to complement the efforts of the government,” Governor Sanwoolu added.

At the moment the total number of confirmed cases in Nigeria is 81, with only one casualty. With most of the affected people in Lagos, the state government has decided to carry out a state-wide fumigation exercise as part of its control measures.

Governor Sanwoolu said: “To ensure we keep our environment safe and curtail the contagion of Covid-19, we are deploying disinfectant equipment to fumigate the entire state.  These fumigation machines will be deployed to every part of the metropolis for sterilisation of our public spaces and surfaces.

"We are very aggressive in our efforts to combat the novel coronavirus in the state. We all have to take responsibility and do our part in ensuring we remain safe and healthy.”

To check the spread of the virus, the government had ordered the closure of markets, apart from those where food and medical items are sold. Parks and other public spaces have also been directed to shut down.