Follow Us on Google
By Lukman Olabiyi
With their facial expressions and body language, the question regarding how they felt about government intervention on fuel subsidy removal had already been answered without uttering a word. Their expression of joy and relief said it all for them. This is the case of those who recently benefited from the palliatives distributed by the Lagos State Government.
Palliative distribution to the vulnerable was government intervention to cushion the hardship being experienced by residents as a result of fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government. The state governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, before distribution of food pack containing rice, beans and garri to the vulnerable residents of the state, had earlier rolled out a health palliative, along with other relief measures, including 50 per cent reduction in transport fares in all mean of transportation owned by the state government to cushion the hardship being experienced by the state residents.
The governor’s health palliative covers the cost of normal pregnancy delivery, caesarean section and antenatal care in state-owned hospitals. Speaking at the flag-off of the distribution of the food pack targeted to reach at least 500,000 vulnerable residents, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the measure is geared towards cushioning the effects of the fuel subsidy removal which has affected every sector of the economy. The governor, at the flag-off held at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, said the distribution would be done in phases to be handled by a special committee set up for effective distribution. He also urged the private sector to support the government’s efforts in reaching a larger number of residents.
Sanwo-Olu 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.
“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 food items (50kg Rice, 50kg Garri and 100kg Beans) for groups, and food boxes (10kg Rice, 5kg Garri, and 5kg Beans) for individual vulnerable households.” The governor said in his bid to ensure transparency in the implementation of the intervention, a Monitoring Committee with members drawn from religious groups, trade unions, People with Disability, Civil Society/Non-Governmental organisations, youth group, community development councils and representatives of the Lagos State House of Assembly has been constituted.
“Further to this, distribution will be phased among the various beneficiary groups for ease of the distribution process. In line with this plan, each group will be duly informed of the date for collection.
“Overall, this initiative will directly impact 500,000 benefiting 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 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. Rest assured that adequate measures have been put in place to ensure that all items received get to the intended beneficiaries,” the governor stated.
Among the beneficiaries of the food pack was a 47-year-old woman, Esther Mustapha.
Said she: “The governor has really done well by providing these palliatives for the residents. What I have in my hands right now is a food pack containing rice, beans and garri of good quality and quantity; you can see I can’t carry it. It’s so heavy. I came from Ojodu Bergar to Government House, Ikeja. My transport fare from Berger to this place was also subsidised by the governor. To me that is the best palliative. Well done to Mr. Governor.
“I took the first and last mile bus to the secretariat and I paid N200 instead of the N400 that I ought to have paid. The governor has before now reduced the transport fare on BRT buses, LAGRIDE by 50 per cent. So that also encouraged me to come and collect my palliative.
“Things are very difficult for people now in the country. The food provided by the state government has taken some financial burden from me. My family will feed from it for some time and we are hoping that things will improve in the country.”
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries at a ceremony for the flag- off of the distribution, Mrs Josephine Omolola, Vice Chairman, People Living with Disability (PLWD), commended the governor for the laudable programme.
She said: “On behalf of the PLWD in Lagos State, I just want to say thank you. You are a father with a golden heart. We appreciate all your support all the time. God will continue to guide you right throughout your administration and beyond.” Another beneficiary, an elderly woman who simply identified herself as Mrs Jeje, expressed satisfaction with the steps taken so far by Governor Sanwo-Olu to cushion the biting effects of fuel subsidy removal in the country by the Federal Government.
