Sanwo-Olu assures Lagosians of smooth distribution of palliatives

Governor spokesman appears on TVC

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has assured Lagosians of smooth delivery of relief supplies to vulnerable people in the State, noting that the Government would be partnering with religious houses, Community Development Associations (CDA), Community Development Councils (CDCs), local government authorities, and other relevant stakeholders to distribute palliatives.

Giving an update on how palliatives will be rolled out, the Governor’s spokesman, Mr. Gboyega Akosile on Wednesday, said his principal would be meeting with relevant stakeholders later in the day, with the objective to fashion out efficient strategies in sharing the palliatives.

AN24 reported on Monday that Governor Sanwo-Olu ordered the distribution of food items to vulnerable families and slashed public buses fare by 50 per cent to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.

The Governor also declared free Caesarean section for pregnant women at State-owned hospitals.

Akosile, who was the guest on “TVC News Breakfast”, monitored by AN24, said: “We are going to have food distribution to the most vulnerable. The Governor is going to use the help of religious organisations; churches, mosques, CDCs, CDAs, and local governments. He is having a meeting with local government chairmen today, that is one of the reasons. To identify those in dire need of palliatives. So that it can get to the right persons.”

Akosile recalled that Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, had in January increased the salaries of civil servants in the State, adding that Sanwo-Olu’s administration has the interest of Lagosians at heart.

Furthermore, the Governor’s media aide reiterated Sanwo-Olu’s readiness to alleviate the hardship that followed the subsidy removal.

“We have ordered 40-seater and 30-seater high-capacity buses. We are taking delivery of them and we are going to roll them out from this week. He (Sanwo-Olu) is working on increasing these buses so that nobody would be left out of these palliatives because we know transportation and food are important to people,” he said.

On the 25 per cent fare reduction by commercial vehicle operators, Akosile explained that Governor Sanwo-Olu and his team had engaged stakeholders in the public transport system, who would in turn pass the governor’s message to different parks in the State.

Akosile, however, noted that Sanwo-Olu had been working to address the shortfall in public transportation, adding: “the governor is very responsible and he is not someone who will not think about the negative effect of whatever decision that they are taking.”

He said: “For the yellow buses, I have read some reactions. Governance is about stakeholder engagement, they do business in the state, and they are part of the engine of the state. Forget about what people think they, they are a very important part of you and me because we use their vehicle daily to commute from point A to point B. There has been an engagement with them to let them understand why they had to do this and being responsible citizens, they keyed into it.”

The CPS reassured that government-owned transport systems will begin the fare reduction today (Wednesday).

He urged residents to register with the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA) to enable them access benefits from the government.