COVID-19: Sanwo-Olu Reassures Business Leaders

Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has assured business leaders in the state that his government is doing its best to ensure businesses don’t suffer too terribly from the effects of dealing with the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The state is halfway through a 28-day lockdown that has crippled social and economic activities, except for essential businesses.

In a virtual meeting with 28 managing directors and chief executive officers of organised businesses and companies in Nigeria on Wednesday, April 15, 2020, Sanwo-Olu promised the Lagos State government is committed to fast-tracking economic recovery in a post-COVID-19 world.

The meeting was coordinated Director-General of Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Dr Timothy Olawale, to discuss business challenges and support with the governor.

Some of the issues highlighted by the business leaders include the worsening security situation in the state and escalated civil disturbance trailing the lockdown; damaging effect of limited operations of banks on businesses; unprofessional conduct of security operatives enforcing the lockdown and its impact on business operations; free movement of essential goods especially across state lines, and provision of security for business organisations.

They also asked the governor if his government has specific stimulus and palliative packages in mind for businesses in the state, and the need to assist wholesalers take their products from warehouses in the closed markets to the retail outlets.

The CEOs also raised concerns with the effective distribution of donated foods and materials to vulnerable people in the state, and stressed the need to step up publicity of the 28 emergency markets set up in different schools as patronage has been low in those markets.