Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State says his administration will provide health palliatives for the residents by subsidising drugs to improve their well-being.

Mr Sanwo-Olu made the promise at Ikeja, during the 2023 Community Day Celebration, with the theme: ”Community Engagement, A Veritable Tool For Infrastructural Development In Rural Communities,” on Thursday.

He said the health palliatives, which would soon be rolled out by his administration, would cushion the effects of high prices of drugs, as a result of the economic challenges in the country.

The governor said the government was aware of the growing cost of pharmaceutical drugs in the country.

Mr Sanwo-Olu said the state government would provide subvention to citizens on medical products, as it was done in the transportation sector, as well as food distributions.

”We are not going to leave you in various communities; we will continue to provide amenities for all of you in the rural areas. We are going to reach out to all the nooks and crannies of the state.

”Today, we are here to appreciate you and thank you for your efforts aimed at developing the grassroots.

”As you know, we have slashed the transport fare. We have provided palliatives of foodstuff. We are going to do more.

”The cost of drugs is also rising. As a responsive and responsible government, we will also provide palliatives on medicines,” he said.

The governor also appreciated the various Community Development Associations (CDAs) in the state for their support during the last general elections and for re-electing him and his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat.

Mr Sanwo-Olu said more projects would be executed at the grassroots, adding that his administration had created the office of rural development and appointed a special adviser to ensure speedy implementation of community-based programmes.

He said the office of rural development was dedicated to taking complaints and addressing the needs of Lagos residents, particularly those in the state’s suburbs and rural areas.

Speaking earlier, the special adviser to the Governor on rural development, Nurudeen Agbaje, said the theme of the event resonated with the state’s developmental agenda.

Mr Agbaje appreciated the CDAs in the state for their support through self-help projects, which, according to him, had complemented the government’s efforts at delivering dividends of democracy to residents.

He also commended the winning CDAs for their self-help projects to develop their communities, with a call on other CDAs to support the government in infrastructural development.

Also speaking, the chairman of the Community Development Advisory Council, Azeez Amusat, called for the review of the state’s CDA constitution, with an appeal to Mr Sanwo-Olu to construct a Community House as state secretariat for all the CDAs activities in the state.

Mr Amusat, who thanked Mr Sanwo-Olu for his support and commitment to the welfare of residents in the state, appreciated him for the confidence reposed in the CDAs, particularly the distribution of palliatives to residents across the state through the CDAs.

During the event, four 18-seater buses were presented to the first, second and third CDAs, namely Greenland Estate CDA in Eti-Osa East LCDA.

Others are Royal Estate CDA in Egbe Idimu LCDA and Elepe Royal Estate in Ikorodu Council Area, while the Best Rural Community Award went to Araromi CDA in Ibeji Lekki LCDA.

Consolation prices of N500,000 each were also given to the fifth to 10 CDAs, respectively.

(NAN)