The Executive Chairman of Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area, Lagos State, Adetola Abubakar, on Thursday distributed food items to 1,000 vulnerable households under the second edition of the Adetola Food Bank initiative.
The beneficiaries, drawn from across the council area, received items including rice, beans, yam and garri during the programme held at the council secretariat.
Speaking at the event, Abubakar said the initiative was designed to provide relief to vulnerable residents, stressing that grassroots governance remained the closest level of government to the people.
“This is series two. It is a project led by the Adetola Adunni administration. We have 1,000 vulnerable homes. We are providing them with rice, garri, beans and yam. The beneficiaries are all going home with the foodstuff today,” she said.
The chairman attributed the intervention to increased funding available to local governments, which she linked to the Federal Government’s economic policies, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy.
“The reason we can do this is that our President, Bola Tinubu, has given us an enabling ground. The economy is more stabilised now and once the economy is stabilised, every other thing works,” she said.
“This is also one of the dividends of the removal of subsidy. The funds have been re-channelled to states and local governments. That is why we now have enough to handle our projects and provide amenities for our people to live well,” she added.
Adetola said her administration had also facilitated 16 road projects within its first year in office, while efforts were ongoing to improve healthcare delivery in the LCDA.
“We are doing a lot in the health sector, ensuring that our people have access to good health facilities when they are ill. We are also ensuring that our roads are motorable so that vehicles do not wear out easily,” she said.
She further disclosed that another 1,000 residents would receive N100,000 each under a Renewed Hope cash intervention programme the following week.
“By next week, we will be reaching out to another 1,000 residents of Agboyi-Ketu and empowering them with N100,000 each. This is the Renewed Hope cash intervention,” she said.
The chairman urged residents to support government programmes by remaining law-abiding and fulfilling their civic responsibilities, including the payment of taxes.
One of the beneficiaries, who expressed appreciation for the gesture, described the intervention as timely and impactful.
“I feel great, I’m happy. My chairman, she’s doing well. She’s really taking care of the members from the grassroots, so I really appreciate her,” the beneficiary said.
She also urged other beneficiaries not to sell the food items but use them to support their households or share with neighbours in need.
“Out of these things, I will give to my neighbours. They shouldn’t sell it. They should take it home and eat. If they can’t eat it, let them give it to their neighbours,” she said.
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