By Yemi Olakitan
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said his administration will target over 3,000 households to distribute Combo Food bags adding that his government had embarked on procurement of 100 trailers of rice and some other food items which would be packed and distributed to the less- privileged with adequate monitoring as it had identified 42 Sunday Markets days for the exercise.
Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday said that his administration is aware of the present socio-economic challenges in the country and working towards introducing various interventions, including reduction to 3 working days for Civil Servants on Levels 1-14, while those on Levels 15-17 will work for 4 days, just as he announced the Re-introduction of 25% transport rebait/subsidy, among others to cushion the hardship.
Part of the interventions as announced by Governor Sanwo-Olu also include: Prompt payment of pensioners entitlements, Re-introduction of Sunday Markets for subsidised goods at selected places, Subsidy on some drugs, Suspension of certain registration requirements in public schools, like demand for tax clearance certificate to accommodate more out-of-school children, saying that 100 trailers of rice would soon be made available to for 300,000 households.
Sanwo-Olu stated this on Thursday, during a media interactive session tagged: “Sanwo Speaks,” to residents on steps being taken by his administration to reduce effects of the harsh economic realities on residents.
In health sector, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the 31 General Hospitals across the state had been directed to take child deliveries for free, just as announced that the six health districts in the state would embark on free health mission, twice a week.
The governor also announced the re- introduction of 25 per cent reduction in all public transportation, including: The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), rail and ferries, pledging to increase transport support for Teachers in public schools across the state and exempt parents from showing evidence of tax payments to encourage enrolment of more students in schools.
“This administration is working towards putting interventions in place across different sectors to reduce and ameliorate the sufferings of Lagosians.
“We will open soup kitchens/bowls where identified caterers (mama put) at least 1,000, will be employed across local government areas to feed those who need it, once daily.
“Beneficiaries will get vouchers to be able to access the kitchens. We will also be having food purchase and redistribution to people who need it, especially as we are currently expecting about 100 trailer loads of rice and grains.
“Also, we will be having Sunday markets in 42 identified markets where people can buy cheaply at discounted rates. Purchase will, however, be limited to N25,000 to ensure that those who really need it benefit from the initiative.
“There will be free delivery in all general hospitals (normal and ceasarean section), and a rebate on certain medications. Six health districts will be holding free health missions twice a week for the next three months,” the governor stated.
Speaking further, Governor Sanwo-Olu restated the commitment of his administration to achieving its THEMES plus developmental agenda, disclosing that the ground breaking ceremony of the 4th Mainland Bridge and unveiling of the Redline Rail System on would hold on February 29th by President Bola Tinubu, who he said had promised to honour the state with his presence.
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On improved electricity supply, the governor said his administration awaited the passage of Electricity Bill before the House of Assembly into law, assuring that once it was passed and signed into law would ensure the state witness new investment companies and on both generation and distributions coming into the state for the set goal.
Sanwo-Olu, assured that the proposed law, would enable the investors the capacity to grow on their own and bring about what he termed: “winning buyers and winning sellers concept” where a lot more investments in alternative sources of energy would thrive.
“It is for that law to be passed by the House of Assembly. Once that law comes out, you would see new investment companies and on both generation and distributions.
“And they would also have capacity to grow on their own. So winning buyers and winning sellers concept would work, there would be a lot more investments in in alternative sources of energy,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu, while noting that Lagos remained a strong enabler on the independent power supply, said the state currently had the Independent Power Project (IPP) that it was running, but quickly noted that there was the need to localize the law and regulations so that those investments can come in by making the environment “new entrants’ friendly.”
“We in Lagos State also have the IPP that we are running on our own. We are a strong enabler on the independent power supply.
“So we know what all of the terrains are because the environment was not that new entrants’ friendly which has now been removed.
“We need to localize the law, regulations so that those investments can come in,” he said.
“The solution to electricity in Lagos State, we are fully aware. We are doing a lot on the deliverables, a lot of our street lights now, we are turning them into solar, so that we can reduce consumption of diesel and the rest of it from our feeds,” he added.
Sanwo-Olu commended residents for their supports over the years, assuring that his administration would continue to put infrastructure in place in order to make life better for residents.
The governor, while saying his administration was not unmindful of all the economic challenges being faced by the citizens, warned that the government would not tolerate contraventions of its environmental laws.
Sanwo-Olu, therefore, sued for continued peace in the state, irrespective of ethnicity, tribe or religion, even as he reiterated his administration’s commitment to the integrated urban transportation system and development of all sectors in the state.
He stressed the need for residents to shun violence and work together with his administration to achieve a greater Lagos.
Other relief measures include:
A three-day work week for civil servants from levels 1-14.
Extra transport assistance for teachers.
Free delivery services for pregnant women in all state hospitals.
Free medication for patients with hypertension and diabetes.
