Lagos govt spends N2.13bn on vulnerable residents
By Adeola Ogunrinde
The Lagos State Government on Monday disclosed that it disbursed more than N2.13 billion to 3,301 vulnerable residents within the last one year under the Eko Cares Financial Assistance Programme.
The government said the intervention forms part of efforts to deepen social welfare programmes, strengthen grassroots governance, and expand citizen engagement across the state amid prevailing economic challenges.
This was disclosed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political, Legislative and Civic Engagement, Afolabi Tajudeen, during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa.
According to him, the Eko Cares initiative remains one of the flagship social intervention programmes of the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, targeting indigent residents, students, small business owners, persons living with disabilities, elderly citizens, and vulnerable households across Lagos State.
Tajudeen explained that the current cycle of the programme benefitted 3,301 residents, while cumulative beneficiaries since 2020 have increased to 11,991 households, with total disbursement exceeding N4.6 billion. He added that the intervention covers direct cash grants, payment of medical bills, educational support, housing assistance, and business start-up support aimed at improving economic inclusion.
He stated that women, persons living with disabilities, and elderly residents remain priority groups under the intervention programme, adding that the state government allocated N3.14 billion to the scheme in the 2026 budget to ensure continuity of welfare support.
The special adviser also disclosed that the Office of Political, Legislative and Civic Engagement expanded its Mother, Infant and Child Development Programme through which 2,315 pregnant women received nutritional support across the six health districts in Lagos during the current cycle. He noted that the programme, introduced in December 2020, has so far reached 8,595 beneficiaries, with government spending exceeding N641 million on nutritional and maternal support initiatives.
He further stated that the office intensified civic education and grassroots mobilisation programmes across schools and communities in the state. According to him, 17,783 students across 17 schools were educated on governance, civic rights, and public service during the review period, while cumulative beneficiaries of the civic education initiative have risen to 25,671 students across 25 schools statewide.
