Acknowledging the peaceful state, Lagosians are calling for the government’s continuous intervention.
The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has dedicated three telephone lines for citizens to engage with government officials, receiving an average of 200 calls on each line. The Ministry of Information and Strategy states that the high response to this initiative signifies that Lagosians have chosen dialogue over protests.
Callers appreciate the peace in the state during the recent protests and urge Governor Sanwo-Olu to maintain programs aimed at reducing the suffering of residents.
According to the statement, within 24 hours of unveiling the telephone numbers, each ministry received an average of 200 calls. Callers acknowledged the peaceful nature of the protests and urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to sustain the initiatives designed to alleviate the current economic burden on Lagosians.
Among the top requests are the return of Ounje Eko Sunday market across Lagos State, a 25% rebate on fares paid on all state transportation platforms, and concessions in the health sector.
A concerned resident said, “Please, we are asking Governor Sanwo-Olu to reinstate the discount on BRT bus fares. A trip from Ipaja BRT, which was reduced from N800 to N600, is now back to N800, but we would appreciate it if the Governor instructs the BRT Operators to bring it down again. This will help us reduce our daily transportation costs.”
Additionally, a student from Ekiti State University, Ayomide Olarinmoye, inquired about accessing Federal student loans. Nkechi Ajubike highlighted the issue of hunger and suggested a temporary subsidy for six months to alleviate economic hardship.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, expressed his satisfaction with the dialogue approach taken by Lagosians, stating, “This is the way it should be. This is Lagos. We will always choose dialogue over violence, which is never our way.”
Highlighting the government’s initiatives, the Commissioner emphasized that the Sanwo-Olu administration will continue to empower youths and students by providing training and equipment for those who choose to become entrepreneurs. The ongoing engagement with youths aims to bridge the gap between the youth population and foster a collaborative approach to governance.
The telephone numbers for citizen engagement are as follows: Ministry of Youth & Social Development (+2347077178295), Ministry of Information and Strategy (+2348119655788), and the Office of Political, Legislative and Civic Engagement (+2348025224347).
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