By The senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, Tokunbo Abiru, on Thursday, launched a financial assistance scheme tagged ‘COVID-19 Relief Financial Assistance’ for residents of the district, in fulfillment of one of his electoral campaign promises.
Delivering his speech at the event held at his constituency office in Ikorodu, Abiru explained that the scheme was designed to ameliorate the devastating economic impact of the pandemic on the mass of the people at the bottom of the pyramid.
The senator said, “The sense of urgency that my team attached to the welfare of the poorest of the poor in our midst, compelled us to hit the ground running immediately. We cannot afford to fail young children who have chosen to learn.
“It is our duty as leaders to protect these minors who are the most vulnerable segment of the society in the context of the war against COVID-19 pandemic.”
Abiru disclosed that over 2,000 of vulnerable persons in 98 wards across 16 local government areas in the senatorial district had benefited N5,000 (Five Thousand Naira) support scheme since January. They include widows, unemployed youths, women, physically-challenged persons, among others.
“The beneficiaries who are scheduled into two categories are getting the assistance bimonthly (that is once in two months), and it will run through the year 2021 by way of direct credit to their bank accounts.
“Having successfully piloted two streams of payments to beneficiaries under the scheme, we deemed it fit to formally launch the scheme as the third stream of payment for the month of March will be paid today,” he added.
According to the senator, this intervention was one in the series of lined up interventions that were targeted at the critical demography in district.
He added that others that will follow in this new quarter are: The Traders Assistance Scheme for market, scholarship and bursary award for qualified students in Higher Institutions of learning.
Abiru said that through doggedness and proactiveness, he had been able to facilitate a N30,000 Federal Government Survival Fund for 370 transporters and artisans in the district, adding that the first tranche was paid about two weeks ago and they have two more tranches to receive.
He stated, “Other interventions we are vigorously pursuing include; Guaranteed Take – Off grant, CAC Business Formalization for MSME.”
The senator used the event to announce that he opened four Liaison offices across Epe, Ibeju/Lekki, Somolu and Kosofe to serve as administrative support outlets for the constituency headquarters in Ikorodu.
While addressing the beneficiaries, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ikorodu, Chief Asipa Kaoli, advised the beneficiaries to use the financial support for things that would enhance their living, saying no amount was little to start a business.
In his remarks, a former Lagos deputy governor, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, said that the leadership and constituents were proud of Abiru in ensuring happiness gets to the mass majority of the masses.
