BABAJIDE ‘STAR BOY’ OLUSOLA SANWO-OLU: TAKING COVID-19 TO THE CLEANERS

By Oki Samson and Yomi Oyelami, Trek Africa Newspaper

Governor, Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu ‘Star Boy of Lagos’.

Mr. Governor disappoints cynics with stellar performance

When the COVID-19 index case arrived in Lagos, Nigeria from Italy via Turkey in February, 2020, many pundits believed that Nigeria is in a messy situation especially when it was gathered that the Italian had traveled all the way to Ogun state and back on a business trip before been confirmed as Nigeria’s first COVID-19 patient. It was concluded that the nation’s exit from the mess will require more than just intelligence but inner strength, willpower and providential input.

‘But where will the leadership come from’ tongues wagged in rhetoric. Lagosians began to long for the days of Babatunde Raji Fashola as Governor of Lagos state and how he managed the 2013-2016 Western Africa epidemics that the devastating impact of ebola was minimized in Nigeria. But the man has a Federal job now.

There is a new man at the helms in Lagos. His name – Babajide Olusola Sanwo-olu. He has often been accused by cynics in his less than one year in office as being slow, indecisive and lacking in motivation. With COVID-19, he is facing a litmus test that could make or mar his reputation before the entire citizenry, not just the cynics. The pandemic brought the chestnut out of the fire. Now, the cynics have their mouths ajar in disbelief for Sanwo-olu the Star Boy has proven them wrong.

L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi and Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat during one of the State briefing on Update of the COVID-19 reports in the State.

Trek Africa Newspaper earlier reports that, the man who had earlier in the year refused the appellation ‘His Excellency’ citing that only God is the Most Excellency and preferred to be referred to as simply ‘Mr. Governor’ has taken charge of the onslaught against the novel coronavirus pandemic as Incident Commander. As the scope of the health crisis began to unfold, the task of information dissemination and public awareness became top priority. As confirmed cases increase, isolation and medical treatment added to the task. Next was the need to provide palliatives to the vulnerable in order to mitigate impending disaster due to starvation. And then the gradual ease of lockdown in a balanced and beneficial manner which will restart the economy, yet preventing upsurge in infections.

Sounds easy right? Only four steps? But it is not that simple. It entails acute responsiveness and enduring tactfulness. Forget the PR, the social media pictures, and paparazzi, living through each day as the Incident Commander is not simple, especially on days when there are tough calls and decisions to make.

The most recent difficult decision is how to set modalities for how Lagos will run in the ‘Controlled Easing Phase’. How does the government ensure that the citizens do not equate the gradual ease of lockdown to the end of COVID-19? The set of new guidelines are to safeguard the gains which the state had made in the past weeks in the fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

In his 9th briefing, the Incident Commander stated: ‘There will be dusk to dawn curfew from 8pm to 6am daily. This means that we expect all Lagos residents to stay in their homes in these hours except those in essential services. All commuters are mandated to wear face masks at all times, sanitize with alcohol-based sanitizer or wash their hands with soap and running water before and after every trip. All motor parks and garages must avoid overcrowding. Social distancing is required for passengers queuing up to board buses. All buses should be loaded to a maximum of 60 per cent of full capacity. No standing allowed in all BRT and LBSL bus operations. All air-conditioning systems in public transport systems must be switched off. Commercial motorcycles, popularly known as okadas, are to suspend their operations statewide except for those motorcycles used for courier and logistics purposes. Tricycles (kekes) operating in unrestricted areas must not carry more than two passengers per trip and ensure appropriate social distancing is maintained between passengers.’

R-L: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi; Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat and Medical Director, Mainland Hospital, Dr. Abimbola Bowale, during an inspection visit to the Emergency Operations Centre and Biosecurity Unit at Mainland Infectious Disease Hospital Yaba, on Sunday, March 1, 2020.

He added: ‘companies that choose to operate within this Controlled Easing Phase are to operate between 9am and 3pm. They are also directed to operate at a maximum of 60 per cent of their staff capacity. Some non-essential workers can continue to work online and remotely from the office. Online and work-from-home arrangements are highly encouraged to continue as much as is practicable. All entertainment centres such as event centres, cinemas, arcades, bars, casinos, day clubs, night clubs and beaches shall remain closed till further notice. Swimming pools, gyms, barber shops, spas, beauty salons, and all public parks including those in private and residential estates, will continue to remain closed for another two weeks in the instance, at which point we will review and advise on the permissible opening date for these establishments.’

Since this briefing, the Governor has painstakingly observed and carefully introduced new measures that will ensure Lagosians can go about their regular activities at the same time prevent unusual spread of the coronavirus. His recent announcement on 4th June has reopened worship centres but with a caveat, ‘mass gathering during COVID-19 pandemic can be of serious public health consequences. And there are documented evidences that mass gathering can increase the spread of the virus. And that’s why we will from 14 days time, precisely from the 19th of June for our Muslim worshippers, from the 21st of June for our Christian worshippers, we will be allowing all of our religious bodies to open at the maximum of 40 per cent of their capacity and we will be working with them as being expected with the State Safety Commission. But we know that places of worship have different sizes. You cannot have beyond 500. And keeping that 40 per cent maximum capacity is really so important. No matter how big worship is, you cannot have more than 500 worshipers at a time’.

L-R: Lagos Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi; Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Director of Airport Operations, FAAN; Capt. Murktar Muye; Station Manager, South Africa Embassy; Mrs. Joy Onyeadi and others, during an on-the-spot assessment of Coronavirus screening procedure at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu (middle); Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi (left) and others during the unveiling of the 80-bed isolation centre for COVID-19 treatment, at Landmark Convention Centre in Lagos.

The excellence, meticulousness and ingenuity that Babajide Olusola Sanwo-olu has demonstrated in managing the health crisis has earned him the nickname ‘Star Boy’ and many states have copied the Lagos situation as a model. It is to the Governor’s credit that the first virtual State Executive Council meeting in Lagos was held on Monday, 30th March 2020. He has promoted distance learning through television and radio as a means to continue education for students in basic and high schools. He has enjoyed massive support from private individuals and corporate Nigeria. Alongside his wife, Dr. Mrs. Ibijoke Claudia Sanwo-olu, he demonstrated to Lagosians that worship at home is possible by attending online church services. It is also praiseworthy that the Incident Commander has availed himself of every opportunity to celebrate and inspire the front liners in the health and emergency sector. He procured additional life and health insurance for the health workers, increased their hazard allowance to 400%, and has continued to assist families of those who have lost their lives in the line of duty. On the anniversary of his first year in office, Gov. Sanwo-olu dedicated the success of his first 365 days to frontline health workers and then presented awards to ten leaders of medical teams representing over 800 health personnel.

The battle is far from over. But the ‘Star Boy’ has won the hearts of Nigerians across the federation as an upwardly-mobile administrator, a forward-looking leader, and a gentleman that is worthy of emulation.

Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and His Wife, Dr. Ibijoke Observing their Sunday Worship Service Online.