COVID-19 lockdown: Ogun plans stimulus package for 500,000 homes

The Ogun state government has announced plans to commence stimulus package distribution to 500,000 homes across the state.

Dapo Abiodun, the state governor, said the package is part of efforts to cushion the adverse economic consequences of the lockdown directed by the federal government.

The distribution of the packages, which contain food items and hand sanitisers, is scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 4, 2020.

On Sunday, President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered the lockdown of Lagos, Ogun and the federal capital territory with effect from 11pm on Monday, March 30, as part of efforts to limit the spread of coronavirus.

However, Abiodun said he had convinced the president on shifting the lockdown in Ogun state to Friday, April 4, 2020.

In a statement published on its social media handles on Thursday, the state government said it had finalised plans with all local government transition chairmen on the distribution process.

The packages would be delivered to 500,000 homes, with an average of four persons each.

Furthermore, the transition chairmen will on Thursday, “organise sensitisation programmes for people within their LGAs, where they will enlighten the people, as the state government has so far done, on the symptoms and preventive measures of the coronavirus”.

“The chairmen will also ensure that everyone is aware of the pattern of distribution so that all households will be reached effectively,” the statement read.

The state government urged compliance with the ban on large gatherings saying the package would not be distributed at gatherings.