Ayodele Olalere
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday announced that Lagosians would soon begin to receive palliatives on drugs as was done with the food palliatives initiative of the federal government.
While speaking at the 2023 Community Day Celebration , themed: “Community Engagement: A Veritable Tool for Infrastructure Development on Rural Communities,” which was held at the Police College Ground, and organised by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Sanwo-Olu noted that his administration was aware of the growing cost of pharmaceutical drugs in the country and would provide subvention to citizens on medical products as it was done in the transportation sector as well as in food distributions.
He said the subsidies on health care services and products was meant to cushion the economic challenges facing the citizens, particularly the rural communities.
He further promised the people that the government would not abandon them, adding that apart from reducing the transport fare.and providing palliatives of foodstuff. the government will also provide palliatives on medicines.
He added that Department of Rural Development has been ceeated to address complaints and needs of the people particularly in the state’s suburb.
The Chairman of the Community Development Advisory Council (CDAC), Alhaji Azeez Amusat, thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu for his support and commitment to the welfare of citizens in the state.
He equally appreciated him for the confidence reposed in the council, particularly the distribution of palliatives to residents across the state.
He, however, appealed to the governor to remember the council’s requests made during the last community day celebration, listing the requests to include erection of community house, mobility, among others.
Special Adviser to the Governor of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Agbaje, said the theme of the event resonates with the state’s developmental agenda.
Agbaje appreciated all the LCDAs in the state for their support through self-help projects, saying that such assistance had complemented government’s efforts at delivering dividends of democracy to the state.
Highlights of the event was the presentation of cash gifts to CDAs and grand prizes of four brand new 18-seater buses to three outstanding CDAs and the best rural area of the year.
The buses were presented to the first, second and third CDAs which are Greenland Estate CDA in Eti Osa East LCDA, Royal Estate CDA in Egbe Idimu LCDA and Elepe Royal Estate in Ikorodu Council Area, while the best rural community award went to Araromi CDA in Ibeji Lekki LCDA.
Consolation prizes of N5,00p each were also given to the fifth to tenth CDAs respectively.