About 500, 000 venerable households are targeted to benefit from the Eko Cares initiative of the Lagos State government.
The initiative launched on Tuesday by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is a social intervention programme designed to ameliorate the current harsh economic condition faced by millions of Nigerians.
The beneficiaries will cut across the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas (LCDAs) of the state.
It entails the distribution of foodstuffs to vulnerable people, medical outreach and a 25 percent discount on the sale of food items, among others.
To drive the process, the statement has constituted a non-partisan Special Dispensation Advisory Council of notable Nigerians, including rights activists, religious leaders, a youth representative, and opposition party chieftains, chaired by Governor Sanwo-Olu himself, and Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, his deputy, alternate chair.
Speaking at the launch, Sanwo-Olu urged the communities, union, youth leaders and others selected to be part of the distribution of the food items to avoid hoarding. He charged them not to indulge in sharp practices.
“Let us be the government in our respective local government so that we will be able to tell our community people to do away with what the government doesn’t want them to do.
“Today, I am excited that we all of the things that we have promised you, we have started them and we are still doing it bigger and better because, from today, you will begin to see all of the foodstuffs will be shipped to all nooks and crannies through the local governments,” he said.
Gbenga Omotoso, the commissioner for information and strategy, described the event as another milestone in the life of Sanwo-Olu’s administration.
