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In a bid to ameliorate the economic hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy and depreciating value of naira, the Lagos State government said it is set to distribute food items (palliative) to 500,000 households in the state through unions and local governments.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu gave this update on Thursday in Lagos.
Speaking at Alausa in Ikeja, Sanwo-Olu said, “When we announced during my last media chat in February, I said we were setting up a lot of verticals where we can help and assist our citizens to be able to access food at a cheaper rate and be able to give succour to our citizens in health, education, food security and all areas where we have social interactions with our citizens. It sounded as if it was just a promise that we were making and would not be able to keep.
“I want to tell all of us here today that in the last six to eight weeks that work has actually started concurrently in all of these areas that I have mentioned.
“But the big one that we are here to launch is our attempt to touch directly about 500,000 households.
“In the last six weeks, we have gone ahead to package foodstuffs, which will be distributed through the local governments, community development associations, religious bodies and all various stakeholders that we have and we will ensure it gets to the vulnerable in our society, that is what we have demonstrated here today.”
Sanwo-Olu while warning against food hoarding, said, “Please, once they send these things to you, you’re not meant to hoard them or share them among your groups. The items are supposed to be for the vulnerable people who truly need them.”
