Follow Us on Google
By Bianca Iboma-Emefu
Agege Local Government, in partnership with Inspire Lagos Food Market, rolled out a food subsidy programme that slashed prices of staple commodities by half, giving direct relief to no fewer than 3,000 vulnerable residents battling the biting food crisis.
The initiative, flagged off barely three weeks after the new administration assumed office in Agege, formed part of efforts to cushion the hardship triggered by the removal of fuel subsidy, which had pushed millions of low-income earners to the brink of hunger.
The Acting Chairman of Agege Local Government explained that the partnership with Inspire Lagos was designed to bring succour to the needy, especially the elderly, people with disabilities, and the poorest households in the area.
“For us, as a new administration, we are positioned to bring relief to our people. When this initiative came, we decided to partner with Inspire Lagos Food Market to provide a 50 per cent discount on food items because the government cares about the residents. This is strictly for the vulnerable, not for those who can afford it. Our register captures the elderly, persons living with disabilities, and low-income families,” he said.
According to him, the discounted commodities cut across 16 staple foods including rice, beans, yam, semovita, pasta, noodles, garri, palm oil, vegetable oil, and frozen chicken. For instance, noodles that sold for N10,000 per carton in the open market went for N5,000, while chicken dropped from N6,000 per kilo to N3,000.
He added that the initiative would run quarterly, with another edition scheduled for December, even as the council intensified efforts in sanitation, drainage clearance, and waste management to improve living conditions across the seven wards of Agege.
Other News
The Convener of Inspire Lagos Food Market, Abiola Adebajo, said the initiative aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2, which targets zero hunger. He explained that the intervention, which began in August 2024, had so far covered Surulere, Shomolu, Ifako-Ijaye, Ojodu, and Orile-Agege, with plans to extend across the 20 local governments and 37 LCDAs of Lagos.
“Food is expensive, and this is our own way of bringing succour to the people. It is a structured market with proper registration, controlled payment, and orderly distribution to avoid stampede. We started with 2,500 residents monthly but due to high demand, we now reach over 5,000 weekly. Today, 3,000 residents in Agege have benefitted,” Adebajo stated.
Head of Agriculture and Social Services, Mrs. Aderonke Tomilayo Ogundiran, emphasized the ongoing efforts by her department to strengthen extension services and support initiatives aimed at complementing food relief programmes for vulnerable families within the local government. She noted that many residents were currently grappling with hunger challenges, which the local government was actively addressing through a multifaceted approach focused on enhancing food security for all.
Mrs. Ogundiran revealed that as part of these efforts, the LG had instituted an empowerment scheme that provided N100,000 to vulnerable families, aiming to lift them out of food insecurity and improve their livelihoods. She expressed enthusiasm about the initiative, noting that it was the first of its kind in the area and that plans were already underway to organize similar market events quarterly. She stressed that such regular interventions would significantly contribute to alleviating hunger, especially in the face of rising food prices and economic pressures.
Furthermore, she explained that the market’s 50 per cent discount was targeted specifically at families in need within the local government, ensuring that assistance reached those most affected by current economic hardships. Mrs. Ogundiran reiterated her department’s commitment to supporting vulnerable populations through these strategic programmes, designed not only to provide immediate relief but also to foster long-term food security and community resilience.
Residents who thronged the venue expressed excitement, noting that the gesture not only brought food to their tables but also restored hope that government and private partnerships could directly impact their lives.
