How to keep Lagos clean during the fight against coronavirus remains a priority of the table of Governor Sanwo-Olu. This was disclosed by Commissioner for the Environment Tunji Bello, who said all agencies under the purview of his ministry, especially Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), are mobilised to evacuate of waste across the state during the lockdown duration.
Mosques, churches, motor parks, market places and other public spaces were fumigated to complement efforts of health workers, he said. Besides the fumigation exercise being undertaken across local governments and some bus stops in the state, Bello added that plans are in place for massive disinfection of all the highways across the State.
This will include cleaning of all drainage channels in the state. “We ensured that PSP operators go around Lagos to prevent the accumulation of waste within the metropolis during the lockdown and ensure the environment is kept clean and healthy,” Bello said.
The disinfection exercise, according to Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs Dr. Wale Ahmed has further helped in reducing the spread of the disease. “If the exercise saves just one life, it is worth it and l believe it has done much more,” he said.
He commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for the provision of 200 motorised-disinfection machines, personal protective equipment as well as needed chemicals to all the LGAs and Development Council Areas for the disinfection exercise.
Ahmed disclosed that when the index COVID-19 case was discovered in the state, the Governor immediately met some critical stakeholders at the grassroots, which included council chairmen and leaders of community development associations, among others, as part of efforts to contain the situation from going out of control.
He said all the various Councils, through their environmental health departments, have also complimented the state government’s efforts by deploying their disinfection machines, in addition to the 200 machines provided to all the 57 LG/LCDAs by the state.
“Mr. Governor called the meeting of stakeholders, including Chairmen of Local Councils, Ministry of Health and Members of the Community Development Advisory Committee to inform them about the index case, sensitise them on how to curtail the spread as well as raise awareness level about the virus,” Ahmed stated.
E-learning to the rescue
Explaining how the state has responded to the coronavirus crisis, the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo, said Lagos was faced with the situation of allowing children to forget all they have been taught in school after staying at home for long without any meaningful academic learning taking place.
Therefore, to cater for primary and secondary school students who are likely to be among the worst hit by the effects of the lockdown directive, she said Lagos has embarked on virtual learning using activities broadcast stations to reach students statewide.
To this effect, the Commissioner noted that the state has come up with radio education programmes to help students to continue to learn during the holiday occasioned by the pandemic.
Adefisayo said further that in partnership with First Bank Plc, the state would roll out one million educational devices to support students learning at home pending the resumption of schools.
