To lessen the effects of the loss of fuel subsidies, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu started distributing food supplies to 500,000 poor households in the state on Sunday.
Governor Sanwo-Olu gave a speech at the ceremony at the Lagos State House in Ikeja and highlighted that the main goal of the initiative was to give needy households access to basic food products in two different methods.
According to him, the first category will get large food supplies like 100 kg of beans and 50 kg of garri.
The Governor noted that homes in the second group will receive food boxes including 10 kg of garri and 5 kg of beans.
Sanwo-Olu emphasised that he was aware of the difficulties many Lagosians were experiencing as a result of rising transportation costs and higher prices for necessities following the Federal Government’s elimination of fuel subsidies.
The governor listed various steps his administration had taken to lessen the impact of the policy on the needy people, including free prenatal care in government hospitals and a 50% cut in transportation fees on government-owned buses.
Governor Sanwo-Olu’s said: “I stand before you all today, deeply aware of the challenges that many Lagosians have been facing with regards to the sharp increases in transportation cost and the prices of essential food items across the state as a direct effect of the policy on the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.
“As a responsive government, we announced a number of measures aimed at ameliorating the effect of the policy on our people, most especially the vulnerable.
“These palliative measures which are already being implemented includes a 50 per cent reduction in transportation cost in the government-owned bus system and free health services for pregnant women in government hospitals among others.
“One of the measures which we announced and being formally flagged off today is the
distribution of food items for vulnerable households through the Lagos Food Bank Programme.
“The strategic goal of this programme is to reach 500,000 vulnerable households in the state with staple food items using two methodologies – bulk and individual.
“Bulk food items include (50kg Rice, 50kg Garri and 100kg Beans) for groups, and food boxes (10kg Rice, 5kg Garri, and 5kg Beans) for individual vulnerable households.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu mentioned the creation of a monitoring committee made up of representatives from various sectors, including religious organisations, labour unions, organisations for people with disabilities, civil societies, youth gorups, community development councils, and the Lagos House of Assembly, to ensure transparency in the implementation of this intervention.
To make the procedure easier, the distribution would take place among the recipient groups in stages. The collection date will be properly communicated to each organisation.
Speaking on the scope of the food palliative program, Governor Sanwo-Olu said: “Overall, this initiative will directly impact 500,000 benefitting households, over 2,500 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises involved in bag manufacturing, food aggregation, packaging, and logistics, while over 25,000 employees of the MSMEs will be indirectly impacted.
“I would like to use this opportunity to solicit for the support of well-meaning and public-spirited individuals and organisations for this programme so that more of our people in need of this intervention can be reached.
“Be rest assured that adequate measures have been put in place to ensure that all items received get to the intended beneficiaries.”