*Commissioner says 20,000 of 200,000 SAfER food items for personnel of security apparatus, media houses and few other groups
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Oyo State Government has kicked off the distribution of palliatives under the state’s Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) intervention .
This was disclosed by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan
The commissioner pointed out that
on the whole, Oyo State Government has earmarked 20,000 of the 200, 000 SAfER food items for personnel of security apparatus, media houses and a few other considered groups
According to Prince Oyelade, the SAfER second phase is kicking off with the distribution of foodstuff across all local government areas, provision of easy-to-access loans for small Enterpreneurs, provision of inputs for farmers, among other initiatives.
The Commissioner for Information and Orientation maintained that the exercise ” is a continuation of the SAfER plan of the Oyo State Government” and that ” the exercise is in fulfilment of Governor Seyi Makinde’s promise to soften the hardship on the citizens as a result of the fuel subsidy removal.”
According to Prince Oyelade, the Governor has directed interest groups, the 33 council chairmen, and their councillors to demonstrate integrity in the distribution of the foodstuff and ensure that it cuts across political tendencies.
Tasking coordinators of the food distribution exercise to ensure that the foodstuff get to the less privileged and vulnerable people in the state, Prince Oyelade said ” the exercise is going on smoothly all over the state, as targeted beneficiaries were seen carrying bags of the different food items in orderly manner.
He stressed further that the state had commenced the process of distribution of free SMEs loan forms simultaneously from seven Micro finance banks in the state, adding that as it was in the last time, the second phase saw the distribution of another 25% of the 200,000 promised by the governor.
The Commissioner maintained that at the conclusion of the second phase in a few days, 100,000 bags of rice, beans and other food items would have been distributed, adding that other critical areas that will reduce hardship on the people are being addressed side by side the food distribution, adding,
” For instance small scale enterprises, under the supervision of the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Professor Musibau Babatunde, is empowering traders, artisans and other small business owners with N500m, as part of efforts to mitigate the effects of subsidy removal on the residents of the State” .
Emphasizing that the forms are free and can be collected in the Micro finance banks: Prince Oyelade gave its details as
1. Full range Microfinance Bank Iwo Road, Ibadan.
2. Isale Oyo Microfinance Bank, Oyo town.
3. Excel Microfinance Bank, Eruwa.
4. NUT Oke Bola Microfinance Bank, Oke Ado, Ibadan.
5. Caretakers MicroFinance Bank, Caretaker, Ogbomoso.
6. Kadupe Microfinance Bank, Shaki.
7. Ebedi Microfinance Bank, Iseyin.
The Commissioner stressed that the loan exercise which is for low and medium scale entrepreneurs will cost the Oyo State Government the sum of N500m.
