In its quest to secure the future and boost the earning capacity of the teeming youth population in Lagos State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has come up with a novel idea which has the potential to transform the fortunes of the youths.
By the outcome of the protests so far, Lagosians have paid back Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu following his stellar record over the past five years that he has been in the saddle.
Save for some political hirelings and limited professional protesters, little was seen of the much hyped protests in Lagos which is unusual considering that the state is usually the epicentre of nationwide civil actions.
This is a testament to how the Lagos State helmsman has championed the cause of the people and in particular during critical times. It is also a positive affirmation following his civic engagement style prior to the scheduled days of the civil unrest.
If we look back to how he handled the COVID-19 pandemic – mobilizing resources and leading from the front, it goes without saying that the governor is made for such desperate moments when citizens are in need of accountable leadership.
In this instant case, by day two of the 10-day street disobedience, Lagos was back to life. Even the first day was more of safety concerns than any interest in civil disobedience as Lagosians largely boycotted or ignored the protest and voted against anarchy despite economic headwinds.
We don’t need to look far to understand why the change of attitude. Of spectacular impact is the EkoCares programme. The scheme which comes with different packages is centred around helping the general populace in times like this.
Months ago, the governor established a committee comprising himself, other government officials and select private sector players including civil society leaders.
The committee was to fashion out the best way to ameliorate economic pressure through the distribution of palliatives because of the palpable economic impact after the removal of petrol subsidy and merging of the forex market. These two federal government policies drove up the cost of living.
The committee got to work and ensured an almost seamless distribution template which benefitted nearly anyone who desired some assistance.
This was how the Ounje Eko was born. Specialized markets were established in more than 30 centres across the state to sell staples at 25% rebate.
That was not all. There was also a credit scheme targeting traders. This was to support their trade after prices went up due to inflation. With this support, the traders could assist their families and remain in business.
The support from the governor was felt in the transportation sector too. All state-owned transportation systems cut fares by 25%. This reduced pressure for those who use the BRT buses, LAGFERRY, and the metro (Blue line) train service. No better way to put money back in the hands of residents than this.
Back to Ounje Eko, it was not long ago that one of my mothers asked me when the programme would be restored. True to type, Governor Sanwo-Olu seemingly heard our conversation and has now reinstated it. This particular intervention truly helped families cope with the inflation and now that it is back, more families will be glad to partake and take advantage.
There is also the health component to the Sanwo-Olu compassion EcoCares scheme. There is a free healthcare package in place through the IleraEko, the state’s health insurance scheme.
These interventions will no doubt help reduce tension in Lagos as they did a few months ago. It is programmes like this that helped ensure that Lagosians did not need the destructive possibility during the protests.
This symbiotic relationship between the governor and Lagosians is a smart way of paying each other with the right coin. A governor that has done well won’t see violent protests to manage irrespective of what professional protesters propagate.
