In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Lagos state government increased its focus on expanding social safety nets , and in a bid to provide relief, embarked on a state-wide food bank drive, the first of its kind in Nigeria.
According to the state government, over 500,000 beneficiaries received food relief, and with the show of empathy for its people being recognized as genuine, the private sector contributions towards this welfare initiative increased the beneficiaries reached to upwards of 1 million plus within a 6-month time frame.
A statement posted by the state government on facebook stated that, “The economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has worsened the plight of families living in poverty and left many people struggling to afford food and meet other basic needs. The crisis has highlighted the critical need for a functioning social security system to allow all Nigerians to achieve an adequate standard of living.
“The consequent lockdown, rising food prices, and a prolonged economic downturn had a devastating impact on informal workers, slum dwellers, and other urban poor families in Lagos. The economic impact of the pandemic has underscored the importance of the right to social security, which requires states to use a range of measures, such as unemployment benefits, cash transfers, and food assistance, to ensure people can obtain an adequate standard of living.”
