The Lagos State Chapter of Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, JONAPWD has commended the Lagos State Government for its efforts to ensure persons with disabilities in Lagos are provided with relief packages to help cushion the effect of the lockdown as a way to contain the spread of coronavirus.
In a press statement issued by the State Chairman, Dr. Adebukola Adebayo, on Sunday, April 12, he disclosed that there has been much update in the reactions of the Lagos State Government as to the publication by The Sun Online.
In the statement issued, he confirmed that the interview was granted to The Sun Newspapers on Monday, 30th of March before the commencement of the lockdown and positive changes have been recorded as a result of advocacies and positive engagement with the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture.
Dr. Adebayo said, “as we speak, food and other relief materials from Lagos state government and other private donors have reached over 3000 PWDs within the last 14 days.
“This has been as a result of increased advocacy and partnerships between the Lagos state chapter of JONAPWD, disability associations, mainstream CSOs with the State government.”
He disclosed that JONAPWD and partners have been working with Ministry of Agriculture to help in the distribution of food packages to PWDs across the state, “So far, we have reached 14 LGAs; Ikeja, Ifako-Ijaiye, Agege, Alimosho, Koshofe, Ikorodu, Surulere, Lagos Isalnd, Lagos Mainland, Mushin, Oshodi-Isolo, Ojoo, Amuwo-Odofin and Ajeromi Ifelodun. This week, from Tuesday, we will be going to Badagry, Epe, Apapa, Shomolu, Eti-Osa and others. We had some shortfalls in some Local Governments like Surulere, Agege and Ikeja, which we also intend to complete.”
Dr. Adebayo, who noted that it is imperative to commend the Lagos State Government for its quick response to the needs of Persons with Disabilities in the state at a time like this, disclosed the number of persons reached is no adequate.
“While the population of PWDs reached is still too insignificant compared to the nearly 2 million population of PWDs in Lagos state, the state chapter of JONAPWD expected that more would be down so that all PWDs across the state can be adequately catered for.
The JONAPWD Chair explained that, “at the end of the day, I foresee we might be reaching out to about 5000 PWDs or more before the lockdown is over, we are also hoping that our private sector partners will also work with us to raise the number of PWDs that will be reached at the end of the day.
“Lagos-JONAPWD is appealing to the Lagos state government and all its partners not to relent, but to kindly do more to help bring more relief to the millions of PWDs in Lagos state as this lock-down continues.”
He appreciated the “Sanwoolu led administration, the Ministries of Agric, Youth and Social Development, Office of Disability Affairs, as well as our CSO partners including Festus Fajemilo Foundation, Daughters of Charity, EDWIN, Iyaniwura, Speaking Fingers, Project Enable Africa, Sight Savers Nigeria, Lagos State Civil Society Partnership (LACSOP), Ibile Foundation and the Media for their tremendous contributions thus far.
