Lagos stated it disbursed ₦700 million to empower 2,344 vulnerable residents
Hamzat answering questions at the event
…to address health needs, accommodation challenges, business support, and school fees for the beneficiaries.
The Lagos State Government disclosed on Wednesday that it had spent over ₦700 million to assist 2,344 vulnerable residents across the state in 2024.
This was revealed by Dr. Afolabi Tajudeen, Special Adviser to the Governor on Political, Legislative, and Civic Engagement, during a Strategic Breakfast Media Chat held at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Tajudeen stated that the funds were disbursed to address health needs, accommodation challenges, business support, and school fees for the beneficiaries.
He explained that the initiative was part of the government’s “Sanwo-Olu Listens” programme, designed to alleviate the burdens of vulnerable residents.
“It is a comprehensive and impactful social welfare programme launched by the Lagos State Government under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Its core aim is to directly address the financial and social challenges faced by the most vulnerable residents within the state, offering them much-needed financial support during difficult times,” he said.
“In the context of the ongoing economic difficulties that many Nigerians face, the programme has continued to alleviate poverty and improve the quality of life for those in need. Those that have benefitted from the programme include the elderly, low-income earners, persons living with disabilities, indigent students, small scale business owners, the downtrodden, etc,” Tajudeen added.
He highlighted the programme’s alignment with the THEMES+ agenda, which prioritises social inclusion and resilience in governance.
Tajudeen also used the platform to showcase other achievements of his office, including the Lagos CitizensGate mobile application.
He said the app promotes transparency and grassroots participation, allowing Lagosians to address complaints, make enquiries, and engage with the government through digital communication.
Further initiatives mentioned included quarterly sensitisation and engagement programmes for community development, the 18th Executive/Legislative Parley, and efforts to strengthen relationships between the executive and legislative arms of government.
Tajudeen reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to supporting residents amids economic challenges.
“I want to reiterate that this government is committed to cushioning the effect of the fuel subsidy removal especially on every resident of Lagos State. The government will not relent in its effort to bring relief to residents of Lagos and also maintain peaceful and harmonious working relationships with all stakeholders in the state towards achieving the ‘Greater Lagos Rising’ vision of this administration,” he said.
He expressed appreciation to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, for their leadership, as well as members of the press for their ongoing support in publicising government initiatives.
Also Speaking at the event, the Deputy Governor of Lagos, Dr Kadri Hamzat, called for a shift in public discourse towards issues that promote development and address pressing challenges.
Hamzat underscored the need for improved dissemination of the state government’s achievements and initiatives through the media.
“It is important to have this kind of meeting. A lot of things that we do in Lagos State seem not to be well disseminated,” Hamzat said.
He lamented that discussions often veered away from critical matters, emphasising the need to focus on developmental issues to move the state forward.
Highlighting ongoing infrastructural efforts, Hamzat revealed that Lagos currently has 198 road projects underway.
“We are doing various roads. What exactly does it then mean? Seven million Lagosians visited our general hospitals last year to receive treatment. What then are the issues? The challenge is that things must change,” he stated.
The Deputy Governor also drew attention to three major existential threats facing Lagos: rising water levels, extreme rainfall, and heat.
Citing recent flooding in Spain that claimed over 300 lives, he urged media professionals to prioritise these critical topics in their reporting.
“As people that push information out, we should focus on the existential threats and let the people know,” he added.
Hamzat also lauded President Bola Tinubu’s vision to build a trillion-dollar economy, describing it as the path to lifting Nigerians out of poverty.
“When Tinubu said his administration was to build a trillion-dollar economy, that is the way to go. What is the problem? As a people, we must do something different,” he said, noting that Lagos should aim for innovative solutions to achieve this goal.
Pointing to global benchmarks, Hamzat noted that the budget of New York’s police department alone stood at $11 billion, highlighting the gap Lagos and Nigeria must bridge.
“What we should be talking about is the future of money. The good thing is that there are lots of young Nigerians who know this and are making money,” he said.
The Deputy Governor also spotlighted the state’s strides in governance through initiatives like the Lagos Citizen Gate 2.0 platform, which enables residents to communicate their concerns directly to the government.
“The Lagos Citizen Gate 2.0 is a game changer for the public to interface with the government. The people tell us their problems, and we fix them,” he noted.
Hamzat emphasised the importance of projecting positive narratives about Lagos and Nigeria as a whole. “The essence is for us to make sure we communicate more. They say our education system is bad, yet our doctors and teachers excel abroad,” he said, calling for greater recognition of the nation’s potential and achievements.
The Deputy Governor concluded by urging media stakeholders to amplify messages that inspired progress and unity, fostering a better understanding of the state’s efforts to address challenges and build a prosperous future.
