Renewed Hope: Over 2,000 residents in Ogun LGA get subsidised foodstuff

By Ugochukwu Ibezim

More than residents of Ijebu-North Local Government Area of Ogun State have benefited from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Food Market, which is an expansion of the special intervention programme of the Federal Government to cushion the effects of rising food prices and economic hardship.

The maiden edition of the initiative, held at the Ijebu-North Local Government Secretariat in Ijebu-Igbo, saw verified beneficiaries purchase staple food items at subsidised prices under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Chairman of the LGA, Hon. OmoBolaji Odusanya, said that the initiative forms part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to restructure the economy and implement people-focused policies that drive development and improve living standards.

The heavily subsidized sales provided immediate relief to households struggling with rising food costs. Hon. Odusanya emphasized that the initiative aligns with the administration’s commitment to the welfare of ordinary Nigerians. He noted that beyond the immediate price reductions, the programme signals a determined push by both federal and local governments to tackle food inflation and ensure no family is left behind.

“We are making concerted efforts to give our people a good sense of security and safety while cushioning the effect of hardship, especially in the area of food,” he said, adding, “No citizen will go to bed hungry under our watch.”

Odusanya described the intervention as a direct and impactful response to the current economic hardship, particularly in the area of food security. He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the successful rollout of the Renewed Hope Food Market, a flagship initiative that offered essential food items at 50% discounted prices to residents.

National Coordinator of the initiative, Abiola Adebanjo, in her remarks, said: “This is to bring hope to residents nationwide. We are showing the people that the president is making efforts to reduce the pressure. We were able to make progress with the Inspired Lagos Food Market at a 50 per cent discount and are now expanding it to a broader mission by joining the president to bring interventions and relief to residents nationwide. This is just a flag-off for the intervention.”

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement for the South-West (SW) zone, Moremi Ojudu, who was represented by Akinbode Olayinka, said that the buying power of many families has been reduced due to economic hardship. “We came together to provide 50 per cent discounted food prices to support residents in buying staple foods at prices different from the regular market price. You can see the smiles.”

She added that the government has put in place some initiatives that encourage people to go back to the farm. “People should go back to the farm. I have a mini garden in my home where I can get some of the necessary ingredients to cook my meals. We should go back to the farm — it helps.”

Residents who thronged the market expressed relief at the opportunity to purchase staple foods such as rice, beans, garri, yam, and other essentials at half the prevailing market prices.