Kunle Adelabu & Mariam Akinloye
-As over 1000 residents get food relief for Xmas
It was not all about distribution of food items to vulnerable and other constituents in Ikorodu Federal Constituency by Rep. Babajimi Adegoke Benson, at the December edition of his ‘Apo – Anu’ food support programme which has been a monthly tradition in over five years.
Benson, who is the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Defense, also used the occasion to reassured the constituents that more Renewed Hope projects – roads, schools, hospitals, empowerments, solar streetlights and many more, would be facilitated for the benefits of Ikorodu people in 2024.
At the distribution exercise, over 1000 residents received the monthly ‘Apo Anu’ (food packs) containing rice, beans, garri, indomie, sphahetti, provision and other items, while many others that were not duly registered and accredited for the Xmas ration, received rice and loaf of breads.
Rep. Benson, speaking at the event, thanked the leadership of his party, All Progressives Congress (APC) and entire constituents of Ikorodu division, for their support, while assuring them that he has the pledges of President Bola-Tinubu and Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu, that more dividends are still coming to Ikorodu next year.
”I want to assure you that lots of many interventions are still coming. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked me to, again, reassure you that its Renewed Hope is coming to Ikorodu. I have been asked to tell you that Ikorodu has not seen anything yet. Mr Sanwo – Olu too has expressed same thing”, Rep. Benson said.
“Next year, we are progressing on our infrastructural renewal. We will be touching every area. If we don’t construct road in your area, we will be giving you school or hospital or empowerment or streetlights. We are going to be facilitating more of these”, he assured Ikorodu constituents.
Mayor Muhydeen Sanwoola, Director – General, iCare Foundation, speaking earlier, clarified that aside from the 1000 to 1500 residents that will be getting the monthly ‘Apo Anu’, many others too that stormed the event without accreditation cards, would also be given some food items.
“We are not only here today to give our usual food packs to those that were duly registered and certified to collect ration for December, but also others who are not on the list”, he said.
“We have been distributing 500 bags of food items every month and during festive period, we always make sure that it is increased to 1000 or 1500, and that is the reason we are allowing more people, especially those without cards, in today.
“Today, we are also going to give those that were with cards but unable to get their food packs last month, because many that were not accredited stormed our office and were attended to”.
The iCare DG, appealed to residents in need of food to always endeavor to visit the constituency office of the three term lawmaker so that they can be captured into the arrangement, rather than just storming the distribution, an act which he said always disrupts their arrangement.
“We will appreciate our people in need of food to approach our office before the distribution day to get food assistance or have their names included in the register list”, he said.
“Today, we are going to be distributing Apo – Anu to those that were duly accredited, while those that just came will be given only rice with one of the hundred loaf of breads donated by owner of F1 Bar.
“We are doing this in the spirit of Xmas for people to get food items and aside what we are doing here today, we are still going to be distributing Xmas food items to many others at home which we have also been doing”, Mr Sanwoola said.
Deaconess Funmi Osinowo, Lagos East Woman Senatorial District, commended Rep. Benson for his quality representation.
Also at the event were Dr. Nurudeen Agabaje, Special Adviser to Governor on LG & Rural Developments, Builder Sesan Daini, Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Hon. Ola Ameen (Apanisile), Vice Chairman, Ikorodu North LCDA, Chief Imam Andu, Chief Imam of Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Mr Segun Anifowoshe, former Sole Administrator, Ikorodu West LCDA, Captain Adewunmi Benson, APC leader, Deaconess Busola Isikalu, the new Iyaloja General of Ikorodu Division, among many others.
