The Governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola, has disclosed that his administration’s Food Support Scheme had fed over 240,000 citizens of the state so far.
He said the scheme has also helped to stimulate the state economy as local productions of goods had been tremendously boosted to enhance the socioeconomic activities in the state.
The initiative, according to him, has impacted greatly on the lives of the beneficiaries, particularly the vulnerable citizens ranging from the aged, the windows, people living with disabilities, youths, among others, with the multiplier effect on the status of the state economy.
This is even as the state government flagged off the eighth edition of the scheme at the Local Government Service Commission, Abere in Osogbo.
Oyetola had in April this year inaugurated the ‘Osun Food Support Scheme’ to mitigate the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on 30,000 vulnerable citizens on a monthly basis.
Oyetola, who said beneficiaries were drawn from all areas of the state using the World Bank-sponsored Social Register, averred that the initiative was part of his promise to prioritise the welfare and the general well-being of the people.
Speaking during the eighth edition of the distribution of the food items, the governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prince Wole Oyebamiji, said his administration has been gradually recording huge success in its frantic efforts to boost local food production, achieve food security and turn the state to the food basket of the South-west region.
According to him, “This is the concept of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, who believes vehemently in the welfare of the people. As we all know, since the inception of this administration in the last three years, salaries and pensions are being paid regularly while health sector and road infrastructure are in place. In addition to these initiatives, the concept of Osun Food Support Scheme came, which saw 30,000 vulnerable citizens being given foods monthly.
“We know the foods given cannot last anybody for a month, but it is still a taste of dividends of democracy. We know that by the Omoluabi ethos prevalent in Osun State, it is very difficult for a vulnerable person who is given a bag of food to eat it alone; a minimum of two or three other relatives will share from it.
“We are doing the eighth edition this month, and as we promised at the inception of this scheme that the gesture will continue. As it is, over 240,000 citizens have benefited from this scheme. The number is obviously more as every beneficiary will share with their neighbours and extended families. We can’t therefore really quantify the actual number of the beneficiaries.
“We are working hard to ensure that the food items get to the targeted beneficiaries through the efforts of the distribution committee. There is a list of beneficiaries with their telephone numbers and contact addresses.”
In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Olalekan Badmus, commended the initiative, which he said had made meaningful impact on the lives of the people.
According to him, the Scheme has been designed with a view to effecting meaningful impact and adding value to other sectors of the economy, particularly the agriculture and small scale enterprises.
Speaking on the fund being expended by the state government on the scheme on a monthly basis, Badmus noted that an average of N100million is being spent on a monthly basis.
He said the state has injected about N800million into its economy since the commencement of the programme in the last eight months.
“This initiative has been very impactful, and if you look at the total integration of the process, you will agree with me that different lives have been touched through this programme. Apart from the products itself, we have people who are doing the layoffs and those that are doing the uploading and offloading as well as the distributors that we are buying the products from,” he stated.
