Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has flagged off the “Eko Cares” Initiative, a social intervention programme aimed at lessening the burden on residents amid economic hardship.
A total of 300,000 households are expected to benefit from the inaugural programme.
Beneficiaries are cut across 20 Local Government Areas, and 37 Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs, of the state.
Deputy Governor, Dr. Femi Hamzat, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Tayo Ayinde, Head of Service, Bode Agoro, members of State Executive Council, Body of Permanent Secretaries, Chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, APC, religious bodies, traditional rulers, Community Development Associations, CDAs, among others, were present at the event held at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.
Some of the foodstuffs to be distributed to vulnerable people include 10kg rice, 5kg garri, 5kg beans, and tomatoes, among others, to over 500,000 households.
To drive the initiatives, the governor set up a non-partisan Special Dispensation Advisory Council of eminent Nigerians, including rights activists, religious leaders, a youth representative, and opposition party chieftains, which was chaired by Mr. Governor, with Deputy Governor Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat as alternate chairman.
Speaking at the occasion, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, described the event as yet another milestone in the life of Sanwo-Olu’s administration.
According to Omotoso, “This day marks the official unveiling of EKO CARES, a comprehensive response of the Lagos State Government to the temporary hardship occasioned by the global economic crises.
“Since his assumption of office in May 2019, Governor Sanwo-Olu has always demonstrated a penchant for keeping his word.
“He has distinguished himself as a leader whose word is his bond. It is, thus, not surprising that “Mr Talk and Do” is fulfilling the promise that he made during the media chat on February 22—to unveil a comprehensive package of socio-economic interventions to reduce the current hardship in the land.
“This gathering is a continuation of the government’s bold efforts to lighten the burden on residents, especially the most vulnerable among us—the poorest of the poor—those who do not know where the next meal will come from.
“‘Eko Cares’ which is being unveiled today, is an aggregate of all the measures designed to ease the pain of our vulnerable citizens, who have no one else to turn to for succour.
“‘Ounje Eko’, an integral part of ‘Eko Cares’, has already kicked off across the State.
“For the sixth Sunday running, residents have continued to troop out to buy various items at the Sunday Markets, where they enjoy an unprecedented 25% discount on all food items.
“Basic foods such as rice, beans, garri, eggs, bread, pepper, and tomatoes, among others, were sold at the markets by designated vendors.
“The feedback received from the programme has been inspiring, with excited residents praising the government for its empathy and thoughtfulness.
“Besides the “Ounje Eko” initiative, food items, which include 10kg rice, 5kg garri, 5kg beans, and tomatoes, among others, all in combo packs, will be distributed to over 500,000 households.
“EKO CARES is being supervised by the Special Dispensation Advisory Committee on Social Interventions (SPEDAC), an eleven-man, non-partisan body set up to advise the government on the various initiatives lined up to help the poor weather the storm.
“This administration has touched the lives of every resident who requires public transportation, seeks medical care, works in the public service, and feeds from the agricultural food items sold in Lagos State.
“Thank you Mr Governor for making this happen; thank you for the discounts given in the transportation and agriculture sectors to make life bearable for Lagosians in the face of economic hardship; thank you for the free medical benefits to our families and thank you for staying the course of empathy.”
