The Lagos state government says it has begun the distribution of 20,000 bags of food items to religious bodies in the state.

It stated further that the motive is to cushion the effects of hardship among the residents in the state. 

The distribution began at the Lagos State Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja on Wednesday, Abdullahi Jebe, the special adviser to  Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on religion (Islamic), said.

He said that the governor had been giving palliatives across to various sections of the society in the state.

“Associations such as the Community Development Associations (CDAs), Community Development Committees (CDCs) have benefitted from the distribution of the palliative.

The distribution is being organised by the ministry of home affairs on behalf of the state government.

“A food box contains 10kg of rice, 5kg of beans and 5kg of cassava flakes (garri).

“These are being distributed to the Muslim communities while 10,000 bags will be distributed to Christian organisations.

“Today we are here to start the distribution, we were supposed to have done this, but because of the protest, we delayed,” he said.

The permanent secretary, home affairs, Adewunmi Ogunsanya, commended Mr Sanwo-Olu for the initiative.

“This palliative is an intervention to support the less-privileged in the society.

“It cuts across all sectors of the state. We came to the auditorium because we wanted a centralised location.

“It is important to note that the governor set up a Governor’s Advisory Council for this purpose,” she said.

The special adviser to the governor on religion (Christian), Adebukola Adeleke, said that the distribution of 10,000 bags of the “Ounje Eko” had also begun for Christian organisations and groups across the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas of the state.

(NAN)