Residents across Lagos State have commended the State Government’s social protection intervention programme following the commencement of a new phase of rice distribution and cash support for vulnerable households.
One of the beneficiaries, Ms. Olanrewaju Blessing from Kosofe Local Government Area, expressed gratitude after receiving support through the Lagos State Single Social Register (LASSR).
According to her, after years of being enrolled on the register without benefiting from any intervention, she was recently contacted and invited to receive assistance.
“I had almost lost hope, but I received a call informing me that I had been selected. Today, I am happy to receive this support,” she said.
Blessing is among 1,500 beneficiaries selected across the State under the intervention coordinated by the Lagos State Operations Coordinating Unit (LASOCU) of the Social Protection Coordinating Department, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture.
The exercise, held in Alausa from Monday to Friday, targets the poor and vulnerable households across the State captured in the Single Social Register, a database designed to facilitate the delivery of government welfare programmes.
Beneficiaries in the first phase were drawn from Agege, Amuwo-Odofin, Ikeja, Kosofe and Lagos Island Local Government Areas, while distribution to other councils will continue in phases throughout the week.
Another beneficiary, Mr. Oyekanmi Shola from Agege, described the initiative as timely and impactful, urging residents to participate in government registration exercises to improve their chances of accessing future interventions.
Similarly, a Lagos Island resident who was also a beneficiary noted that many have benefitted from programmes linked to the register, including employment opportunities and other forms of social support.
Beneficiaries appealed to the government to sustain the initiative, stressing that many vulnerable residents across the State still require assistance.
In response to the commendation, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mrs. Olayinka Ojo, described the initiative as a deliberate and continuous effort to support vulnerable and low-income households across the state.
Mrs. Ojo noted that the Lagos State Government has several other social intervention programmes in place to support residents through various initiatives implemented by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), adding that the current intervention is one of such programmes.
She urged residents to continue to trust the government whenever there are calls for data collection, as this enables their integration into the Lagos State Social Register, which serves as the basis for identifying eligible beneficiaries.
