Lagos State Government has commenced the distribution of palliative measures to vulnerable residents in fulfilment of Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s promise to cushion the effects of the hardship being experienced by Lagosians occasioned by the fuel scarcity and non-disbursement of currency by the banks.
Speaking at the launch and distribution exercise held today at Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the distribution will be a continuous exercise as the government will be reaching out to religious centres, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) and other distribution channels across the State.
Sanwo-Olu, who was represented at the event by his deputy Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, said the targeted beneficiaries of the palliatives include the vulnerable and civil servants, among others, adding that the move is to alleviate the hunger that has been the outcome of currency redesigned by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other crises associated with fuel scarcity.
In his words, “The purpose of the palliative is to cushion the biting effects of the current scarcity of Naira occasioned by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) naira swap policy and the lingering fuel scarcity in the State”.
The Governor explained further that the measures became necessary to improve the living condition of the vulnerable residents of the State, saying “We are doing this to alleviate the pains and sufferings of Lagoaians. The distributed boxes contain different food items for the consumption of the vulnerable in the society”.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), Mrs. Cecelia Dada stated that the Lagos State Government has put together the palliative measure for Lagosian, particularly the vulnerable residents in society.
Dada stressed that the present administration is mindful of the welfare of its people and that the challenges faced by citizens are due to the naira swap and difficulties being experienced in accessing their money at the banks.