Covid-19: OYSG appeals to residents to update rapid response register, says it will be a disservice if the opportunity is missed

Oyo State Government has appealed to residents of 229 communities within the urban and semi-urban areas of the state to actively participate in updating the rapid register of the state.

The government said it would enable them benefit from the Federal Government social security targeted to help cushion the effect of Covid-19, especially those in the urban and semi-urban households that have been pushed into poverty by the pandemic.

It was disclosed that the government has commenced the process to register the would-be beneficiaries adding that it would be a disservice if the people who are supposed to benefit miss the opportunity.

Speaking during the state stakeholders’ meeting on the sensitization campaign for the Rapid Response Register (RRR) at the Ibadan Business School, Bodija, Ibadan on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Adeniyi Farinto said the FG initiative would consider low income earners in informal sector who have lost their income opportunities due to the pandemic.

The meeting was organized by the State Operation Coordinating Unit (OYOSOCU) in collaboration with National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO) under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development in partnership with the World Bank.

Farinto said the intervention which is a short term shock response measure is expected to pay every successfully captured household in the register N5000 monthly for an initial period of six months.

He added that, the initiative which is a partnership between the FG and the World Bank, targets mostly urban and semi-urban low-income earners and households who have fallen into the poverty as a result of the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to Farinto, to locate the wards and communities, the National Social Safety Nets Project utilised the geographical satellite remote sensing technology which culminated 229 communities, identified in eight local government areas of Oyo state.

He gave eight local government areas as Ido, Atiba, Ogbomosho South, Saki West, Iseyin, Oyo East, Irepo and Ibarapa East, saying “Households for the Rapid Response Register will be identified via a combination of Satellite Technology, SMS enabled registration and physical verification.

“We will also deploy a community driven approach and it is apolitical. Whereas, targeting and enrolment of affected households will be done using cellphone Short Messaging Service (SMS) technology that allows beneficiaries to register by following simple USSD code while verification will be done manually to confirm the existence of the beneficiaries.

“Let me therefore use the opportunity to encourage every individual to spread the Rapid Response Register (RRR) message to the people and the communities concerned for effective participation and massive enrollment of beneficiaries.”

Also speaking on updates of the registration, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Planning, Mrs. Foluke Adebiyi said RRR, would assist the state government in dealing with the socio-economic effects and threats of COVID-19 pandemic.

She called for a proper attention by the populace on the new initiative, so that its aim to enable low income earners and other vulnerable may benefit from the programme.

She said “There are eight pre-coded Local Government Areas on the list that have been identified across the state for the action and we are targeting 229 communities.

“Due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic some self-sustaining low income households in urban and semi-urban areas have come under hardship due to the loss of income”.

The Co-ordinator, State Operation Co-ordinating Unit of National Social Safety Nets Project, Mrs Laide Lasisi explained that households found eligible should carefully follow SMS and USSD prompts sent on their phones.

She added that the pilot phase of the project which was done in Lagos and Abuja provided valuable lessons around communications and advocacy, adding that it helped in shaping the engagement and setting the tone for the countrywide implementation.