Lagos begins distribution of palliative to the citizenry

Etim Ekpimah

The Lagos State Government has begun distributing palliative to Lagosians to cushion the hardship they are experiencing following fuel scarcity and unavailability of cash from their banks.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was said to have adopted the measures in fulfilment of his promise to bear parts of the burden the people are going through.

Tunde Alao, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor (Media), Office of the Lagos State Deputy Governor, in a statement on Tuesday, 14 February 2023, said the beneficiaries are vulnerable, civil servants, among others.

He added 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.

Speaking during the distribution exercise, Governor Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his deputy Dr Obafemi Hamzat gave out palliative to the teeming recipients on 14 February 2023 at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa Secretariat in Ikeja, said the distribution is continuous as the government will be reaching out to the religious centres, Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) and other distribution channels across the state.

According to him, 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’s) Naira swap policy and the lingering fuel scarcity in the State.

The governor explained that the measures became necessary to improve the situation among the vulnerable residents of the State. Adding that “we are doing this to alleviate the pains and sufferings of Lagosians”

Sanwo-Olu said, “What is inside the boxes are different items for the consumption of the vulnerable society”

Earlier in her speech, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), Hon. (Mrs) Cecelia Dada stated that Lagos State Government has put together the palliative measure for Lagosians by distributing food to the vulnerable in the society.

Dada stressed that the state government is mindful of the welfare of its people and that the challenges faced by citizens are due to the naira swap and difficulty in accessing money.