LAGOS STATE GOVT TO DISTRIBUTE FOOD PALLIATIVES TO 500,000 VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS

By, Adedayo Fowowe

On Sunday, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu began the distribution of food supplies to 500,000 poor households in the state in order to ameliorate the effects of the elimination of fuel subsidies. 

Governor Sanwo-Olu addressed the occasion at the Lagos State House in Ikeja, explaining that the program's principal goal was to supply critical food products to disadvantaged households in two ways, according to News Agency of Nigeria.   

He stated that large food products such as 50kg of garri and 100kg of beans would be distributed to the first category.  

The Governor stated that the second category will distribute food boxes including 10kg of garri and 5kg of beans to disadvantaged households.  

Sanwo-Olu stated that he was aware of the difficulties faced by many Lagosians as a result of increased transportation costs and higher prices for necessary items as a result of the Federal Government's elimination of fuel subsidies.  

The Governor cited many steps implemented by his administration to mitigate the policy's impact on the vulnerable people, including a 50% cut in transportation prices on government-owned buses and free healthcare services for pregnant women in government hospitals.  

Governor Sanwo-Olu’s words: 

"I stand before you today deeply aware of the challenges that many Lagosians have been facing as a result of the sharp increases in transportation costs and the prices of essential food items across the state as a direct result of the Federal Government's policy of removing fuel subsidies." 

"As a responsive government, we announced a number of measures aimed at mitigating the policy's impact on our people, particularly the vulnerable." 

"Among the palliative measures already in place are a 50% reduction in transportation costs in the government-owned bus system and free health services for pregnant women in government hospitals." 
 

"One of the measures we announced and are formally launching today is the distribution of food items to vulnerable households through the Lagos Food Bank Program."This program's strategic goal is to reach 500,000 vulnerable households in the state with staple food items through two methods: 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."  

How the food palliative in Lagos would be shared  

Governor Sanwo-Olu mentioned the formation of a monitoring committee comprised of representatives from various sectors such as religious groups, trade unions, people with disabilities, civil society organizations, youth groups, community development councils, and the Lagos House of Assembly to ensure transparency in the implementation of this intervention. 
To facilitate the procedure, the distribution would be carried out in stages among the recipient groups. The collection date will be communicated to each group. 

Governor Sanwo-Olu stated the scope of the food palliative program as follows: "  
"Overall, this initiative will directly benefit 500,000 households, over 2,500 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises involved in bag manufacturing, food aggregation, packaging, and logistics, and over 25,000 MSMEs employees will be indirectly impacted.""Be assured that adequate measures have been put in place to ensure that all items received reach the intended beneficiaries," I would like to use this opportunity to solicit the support of well-meaning and public-spirited individuals and organizations for this program so that more of our people in need of this intervention can be reached.