The Lagos State Government has disbursed over ₦2.13 billion to 3,301 vulnerable residents in the last one year under the Eko Cares Financial Assistance Programme as part of efforts to deepen social intervention, strengthen grassroots governance and expand citizen engagement across the state.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Political, Legislative and Civic Engagement, Dr. Afolabi Tajudeen, disclosed this on Monday during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa.
Tajudeen described Eko Cares as one of the Sanwo-Olu administration’s flagship social intervention programmes targeted at indigent residents, students, persons living with disabilities, elderly citizens, small business owners and vulnerable households across Lagos.
According to him, the current cycle of the programme benefited 3,301 residents, while cumulative beneficiaries since 2020 have risen to 11,991 households, with total disbursement exceeding ₦4.6 billion.
He explained that the intervention covered direct cash grants, payment of medical bills, educational support, housing assistance and business start-up support aimed at improving economic inclusion and restoring public confidence in government.
“Women, persons with disabilities and the elderly remain priority beneficiary groups under the intervention,” he said.
The Special Adviser disclosed that the 2026 budgetary allocation for the programme stands at ₦3.14 billion, underscoring the government’s commitment to sustaining welfare support amid prevailing economic challenges.
Beyond financial assistance, Tajudeen said the state also 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 review period.
He stated that the programme, launched in 2020, had so far reached 8,595 beneficiaries, with government spending over ₦641 million on maternal and nutritional support initiatives.
According to him, the intervention strengthened maternal healthcare awareness, encouraged antenatal attendance and reduced childbirth-related health risks in communities.
Tajudeen further disclosed that the state distributed 20,000 food packs across the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas to cushion the effects of economic hardship on residents.
He noted that the intervention directly impacted about 100,000 residents, particularly widows, elderly citizens, low-income households and persons living with disabilities.
On civic engagement, the Special Adviser said 17,783 students across 17 schools were educated on governance, civic responsibility and public service during the review period, bringing cumulative beneficiaries of the initiative to 25,671 students statewide.
He explained that the programme utilised storytelling, arts, book readings and interactive sessions to educate students on governance, civic duties, the Child Rights Law and anti-kidnapping laws.
According to him, over 89,000 residents were also engaged through governance sensitisation and civic empowerment campaigns across underserved communities in Lagos.
Tajudeen added that 78,750 residents participated in voter education and civic outreach programmes organised in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission.
On digital governance, he disclosed that the CitizensGate platform recorded over 750,000 registered users, with 120 Ministries, Departments and Agencies integrated into the system to improve citizen-government engagement and service delivery.
He said the platform received 620 feedback reports during the review period, with 490 complaints and enquiries successfully resolved, representing an 83 per cent resolution rate.
Tajudeen added that CitizensGate radio and television programmes reached over 1.76 million listeners and viewers through multilingual broadcasts in English, Yoruba and Pidgin.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Sanwo-Olu administration to participatory governance, inclusive development and sustained social support for vulnerable residents across Lagos State.