Extending Lifeline for Lagosians through Eko Cares 

To lessen the impact of the economic situation on Lagosians, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-olu recently flagged off of Eko Cares. Precious Ugwuzor writes that this intervention in transportation, education, health and agriculture, was a lifeline for the beneficiaries, particularly this phase of the initiative, which is set to benefit about 500,000 households

In line with the continuous measures it keeps undertaking to better the life of its citizens, the Lagos State government recently flagged off Eko Cares. This particular intervention was tailored to

cushion the burden of economic hardship on Lagosians, to benefit more than 500,000 households.

The interventions, which were in transportation, education, health and agriculture, was to cushion the rise in cost of living caused by the fuel subsidy removal.

Hosted by Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, the event had in attendance, the 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, Party Chieftains, religious bodies, traditional rulers, Community Development Associations.

To carry out these initiatives, the non-partisan Special Dispensation Advisory Council of eminent Nigerians, including rights activists, religious leaders, a youth representative, and opposition party chieftains, chaired by the governor with his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat as alternate Chairman, has ensured the lifeline reaches the intended. 

EarlierInterventions

During the earlier intervention in transportation last February, Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu announced a 50 per cent discount in fares on all government transport platforms, and a further review  led to a 25 per cent slash.

In terms of food intervention, for six weeks, the state government instituted a food market at Ounje Sunday Food Market. 

The civil servants were not left out as levels one to 14 were asked to work thrice a week and a N35,000 wage award was also given to all civil servants.

Meanwhile, 15,000 women picked from all the 20 local governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas were given N50,000 each to support their businesses.

More importantly, the governor  announced free delivery for expectant women in all government hospitals, among other initiatives, a much needed relief for mothers, especially for those in underserved communities. 

Distribution of Palliatives to 500,000 Households 

Having weighed the successes achieved by the earlier intervention, the state government set out to distribute food items to 500,000 households in the state through unions and local government, under the umbrella of Eko Cares. 

Some of the foodstuffs distributed to vulnerable people include 10kg rice, 5kg garri, 5kg beans, and tomatoes, among others, to over 500,000 households.

At the flag off in Alausa, Ikeja, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the goal was help and assist citizens to access food at a cheaper rate; give succour to citizens in health, education, food security and all areas where they have social interactions with the citizens. 

He said when he made that promise earlier, it sounded as if it was just a promise that they were making and would not be able to keep. Months down the line, those promise were not only kick-started, but also thriving.

For the distribution of food palliatives to 500,000 households, the governor said: ” 

In the last six weeks, we have gone ahead to package foodstuffs, which will be distributed through the local governments, community development associations, religious bodies and all various stakeholders that we have and we will ensure it gets to the vulnerable in our society, that is what we have demonstrated here today.”

On the ‘Ounje Eko’ initiative of the government where food items are sold at discounted prices, he said, “We created 59 makeshift markets outside of the regular markets out of our 57 local government and local council development areas and made it Sunday-Sunday market. We did promise you that we would be selling food at a minimum of 25 per cent discount and that, we have kept faith with on a Sunday by Sunday basis.

Warning against any attempt to hoard these food palliatives, the governor stressed that it was meant for vulnerable people who truly need them.

Meanwhile, the governor, who said civil servant workers have been enjoying an additional N35,000 wage allowance since January, disclosed that the state government would soon roll out a new minimum wage scheme, adding that those who are currently earning a minimum wage of N35,000 or more now take home a salary of N70,000 or above since the beginning of the year.

“It is important for people to know that this government has doubled up to ensure that at this difficult time, it has not left the citizens on their own,” he expressed.

What Eko Cares Entails

Earlier on, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, had expatiated on what Eko Cares was all about. Describing it as yet another milestone in the life of Sanwo-Olu’s administration, the commissioner said:  “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 per cent 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.”

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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