A Lagos lawmaker, Sanai Agunbiade, on Thursday in Ikorodu urged the people to embrace e-commerce in conducting their businesses in line with the new normal occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking during a Constituency Stakeholders meeting themed: Post COVID-19 Pandemic: Challenges and Prospects, Agunbiade said the need for the in-person business transaction was a thing of the past as people now make use of the internet.
“As a people, we have to change our attitude and approach on the way things were done before the pandemic.
“We can not disassociate the present crisis in the country from COVID-19 because it created more economic problem.
“It rendered people unemployed, the revenue and resources of the country dwindled which created serious pressure on the society.
“We need to know how the pandemic has affected government and the people so that we can create an avenue to balance it,” Agunbiade said.
The Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, urged the Federal Government to establish state police to ensure peaceful coexistence among community residents.
The Ayangburen, who was represented by Mr Ayodele Elesho, former Lagos State Commissioner for Information, called for a constitutional amendment to accommodate state police.
He urged the local governments to fix all the potholes on roads within their jurisdiction instead of waiting for the state government to alleviate the suffering of residents and commuters in the communities.
“We need police that is conversant with the community where they work to enable them to trace culprits.
“If a policeman errs, he can easily be traced rather than having police who is transferred to unknown areas.
Mr Kaoli Olusanya, Vice- Chairman, All Progressives Congress(APC), Lagos East Senatorial District, called for a total reform of government structure where all the federating units would have access to their natural resources.
“Lagos State is endowed, but unfortunately the structure of the government we are using is denying us access to our resources.
“If we want to address the problem of the protest, the problem of unemployment of the youth and deficit in infrastructure, then government structure has to be reformed,” he said.
Also speaking, Ikorodu Local Government Chairman, Mr Wasiu Adesina, urged youths to embrace peace and collectively work to take Nigeria to greater heights.
Adesina, represented by Mrs Folashade Olabanji-Oba, Vice Chairman, Ikorodu Local Government, advised youths to create an avenue for dialogue where they can express their grievance instead of resulting to violence.
“Youths should shun fake news that is capable of dividing the country,” she said
Mr Olumide Metilelu, Rector, Lagos State Polytechnic, also reiterated the need for reform of government structure.
Metilelu urged youths and parents to tap into the entrepreneurship programme conducted for empowerment in the institution.
Agunbiade, in his response, said that all the requests made at the meeting would be tabled before the House of Assembly.
He added that some of the requests made had been factored into the 2020 budget.
“On the issue of employment, many youths have been offered employment in various organisations.
“What I promised my people is quality, practical representation of my constituency.
“My door is opened to everybody,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that residents of Ikorodu turned out in large numbers to present their demands and their expectations from government, including adequate representation in the 2021 budget.