In a bid to alleviate the impact of the ongoing economic challenges, the Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Home Affairs, has initiated the distribution of 20,000 food packs to religious leaders across the state’s five divisions. The initiative aims to support both Christian and Muslim communities during these difficult times.
During the official launch of the distribution on Wednesday, Mr. Adewunmi Ogunsanya, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, emphasized that this effort is part of a broader state intervention program. “This action continues the State government’s intervention programme, which cuts across all sectors in the State,” Ogunsanya said.
He detailed that the food packs—each containing 10kg of rice, 5kg of beans, and 5kg of garri—will be distributed to over 94 religious associations. To ensure an efficient process, the distribution has been decentralized, with 3,000 packs of ‘Ounje Eko’ allocated daily to various religious bodies. Each division will receive 500 packs to be shared among their members.
Dr. Abdullahi Jebe, Special Adviser to the Governor on Islam, highlighted the significance of this gesture: “This initiative from the State Government will go a long way in alleviating the economic pressure on the religious communities, as food remains an essential part of man’s basic needs.”
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Echoing this sentiment, Very Reverend Adebukola Adeleke, Special Adviser to the Governor on Christianity, stated, “The State Government is sensitive to the plights of the Religious Leaders and their members, hence the need for the distribution of the food palliatives to assuage the high cost of food in the markets.”
The distribution, which began today, will continue until Tuesday, August 20, 2024.