Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has commenced the implementation of a stimulus package that encompasses taking food to the doorsteps of millions of residents in Nigeria’s most populous and boisterous city.

Lagos is the epicenter of Nigeria’s novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

44 of Nigeria’s current 70 confirmed Covid-19 cases have been detected in Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu declared a partial lockdown of Lagos this week, affecting all non-essential shops - those not selling food, water or medicine - in a bid to stem the spread of the pandemic in the sprawling market megalopolis near Nigeria’s Atlantic Ocean coast.

The governor has now announced plans to kick-off the distribution of food supplies to homes as a way of cushioning the effect of the lockdown. “I am happy to announce an economic stimulus package to help our residents cushion the effects of our #StayAtHome directive to stop the spread of #COVID19.

“This first stage is targeting 200,000 households at an estimation of 6 people per household. We hope to ramp it up quickly.

“The stimulus package will contain bags of rice, beans, garri, bread, dry pepper, drinking water and vitamins. We want each ration to last for 14 days as we continue to evaluate the impact of #COVID19.

“Please stay home with your loved ones. We want the best for you,” the governor shared on his twitter page.

On Thursday, March 26, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the “immediate release of a 10 billion Naira grant to Lagos State. This grant will enable Lagos increase its capacity to control and contain the outbreak, while also supporting other states with capacity-building.”