Over 4,000 Get N1.6bn Financial Aid From Lagos State Govt

Fresh facts on Friday emerged that over 4,000 Lagosians have received cheques worth N1.6 billion in financial assistance from the Lagos State government this year under the Sanwo-Olu Listens, Sanwo-Olu Cares Initiatives.

At the presentation of cheques to another 517 beneficiaries held on Friday at the Alausa, Secretariat, the special adviser to the governor on Political, Legislative and Civic Engagement, Dr Tajudeen Afolabi, said that the aid was to assist the beneficiaries to improve their businesses, pay medical bills, settle their children’s school fees, among other financial challenges.

He noted that beneficiaries were chosen without regard to political affiliation or tribal and religious sentiment, adding that various amounts ranging from N300,000 to N1.5 million have been distributed.

“This financial aid is not for APC members. We don’t know the beneficiaries before calling them. Our requirement is for them to write an application on the purpose for the money, they should reside in Lagos, provide their LASSRA and NIN cards as well as their phone number. We don’t question anyone if he or she is a member of APC or not, Igbo, Yoruba or Hausa. We don’t discriminate, Afolabi said.

Afolabi maintained that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is so passionate about alleviating the sufferings of residents through financial assistance to different categories of the needy.

“This is what this office is known for and part of the responsibilities the governor has given to us which is to put smiles on the faces of the people under the Eko Carew, Sanwo-Olu Listens.

‘’For this year, a lot of beneficiaries have received a huge amount of financial intervention orchestrated by the governor and his deputy. Today we gave out 517 cheques for purposes such as house rent, trading, health challenges and for physically challenged individuals.  This year we have given cheques to 4,177 beneficiaries and we still have over 1,000 cheques awaiting disbursement for this year,” Afolabi said.

The Special Adviser advised beneficiaries to make judicious use of the monetary assistance and desist from frivolous spending noting that small scale businesses could be expanded through the aid.

“My advice to beneficiaries is to make good use of it. It’s not money that will solve all their problems but to assist them in meeting their basic needs. They should not use the money for frivolities but use it for intended purposes,” the Special Adviser said.

Among the beneficiaries were petty traders, fashion designers, content creators, among several others. They thanked the Lagos State government for the financial assistance, which they said would assist them in their businesses.

They promised to make judicious use of the fund for their businesses, some of which are content creators, petty traders, fashion designers, while some were for rents, school fees and hospital bills.