The Osun State Governor in Southwest Nigeria, Adegboyega Oyetola has flagged off a monthly Food Support Scheme for 30,000 vulnerable residents with a view to mitigating the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic in the state.
The initiative is in response to available statistics which indicated that many jobs were lost to the COVID-19 pandemic with many sources of livelihoods significantly threatened.
According to Governor Oyetola, the scheme which will run till the end of his administration was designed to cater for the critical needs of the vulnerable citizens – including youths, widows, the aged and people living with disabilities on a monthly basis.
He said the beneficiaries were drawn across using the World Bank-sponsored Social Register, stressing that the initiative would cater for the target needs in a manner that is just and equitable.
“The scheme was in fulfilment of the administration’s determination to provide a buffer for the vulnerable, especially those, who, on account of the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic, had been thrown off balance economically and emotionally.
“The ultimate goal apart from feeding the vulnerable is to also boost local food production and achieve food security in the long run.”
Oyetola said the support scheme was carefully calibrated, in line with the administration’s policy of promoting small, micro and medium businesses to boost the local economy.
He stressed that all food items would be sourced locally to further encourage local farmers and businesses.
“To make the exercise hitch-free and transparent, we have constituted a committee made of relevant functionaries and key stakeholders with representations from the various religious bodies, trade groups, youth groups, minority groups, among others”, the Governor said
The Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Olalekan Badmus, said the gesture would serve as a means to stem the negative tide of social vices and reduce the rate of destitution that might emanate from extreme poverty among the people.
He explained that the first phase of the initiative will cater for the needs of the 570,000 persons in the state which in turn would have a greater impact on the economy since all food items would be sourced locally.
Badmus commended the Governor for taking the welfare and well-being of the citizens as a priority.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun and the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Akanbi lauded the government’s gesture which they described as timely and prompt.
They implored those who were entrusted with the distribution of the relief materials to do justice in the distribution of the stimulus package.
In their remarks, some of the beneficiaries thanked the Governor for the kind gesture which they described as unprecedented in the history of the State.
PIAK
