According to a statement from the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, the food bank program was launched as part of the Lagos State Government’s social and economic intervention programmes to lessen the hardships some Lagosians are going through as a result of an increase in transportation costs and food prices throughout the State as a direct result of the policy on the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.

He added that the Food Bank initiative is an addition to different measures rolled out and currently being implemented by the Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration. The measures include 50 per cent reduction in transportation costs in the government-owned bus system and free health services for pregnant women in government hospitals.

Speaking during the flag-off of the Lagos Food Bank Programme at Lagos House, Ikeja on Sunday, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the programme will directly impact 500,000 benefitting households, noting that over 2,500 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises were involved in bag manufacturing, food aggregation, packaging, and logistics, while over 25,000 employees of the MSMEs will be indirectly impacted.

Governor Sanwo-Olu assured Lagosians that adequate measures have been put in place to ensure that all items received get to the intended beneficiaries.

“The Strategic goal of this programme is to reach 500,000 vulnerable households in the State with staple food items using two methodologies – bulk food items (50kg Rice, 50kg Garri and 100kg Beans) for groups, and food boxes (10kg Rice, 5kg Garri, and 5kg Beans) for individual vulnerable households.

“The distribution of the food items to vulnerable households will be done through Groups, Institutions, Non-governmental Organisations, Community Development Committees, People Living with Disability and Social Protection Department in the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget using the Social Register of Vulnerable in the State.

“To ensure transparency in the implementation of this intervention, a Monitoring Committee with members drawn from religious groups, Trade Unions, People with Disability, Civil Society/Non-Governmental organisations, Youth Groups, Community Development Councils and representatives of the Lagos State House of Assembly will be constituted.

“Further to this, distribution will be phased among the various beneficiary groups for ease of the distribution process. In line with this plan, each group will be duly informed of the date for collection.

“I would like to use this opportunity to solicit the support of well-meaning and public-spirited individuals and organisations for this programme so that more of our people in need of this intervention can be reached. Be rest assured that adequate measures have been put in place to ensure that all items received get to the intended beneficiaries,” he said.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, who acknowledged the economic challenges being experienced by Lagosians at this time, said the current federal government policies are difficult at the moment but would yield greater benefits soon.

He promised that his administration will do everything within its capacity to implement measures that will cushion the pain by continuing to initiate programmes and projects that will uplift the people and provide quality living conditions to all.

According to him, “Let me assure all Lagosians that we acknowledge the economic challenges being experienced at this time. The policies being implemented right now by the Federal government are difficult but necessary measures that must be taken to reposition our economy on the path of sustainable development and prosperity for all citizens.

“I am therefore appealing for the continued understanding of all Lagosians with the assurance that we will do everything within our capacity to implement measures that will cushion this temporary pain as we continue to initiate programmes and projects that will uplift our people and provide quality living conditions to all.”