This is coming as the state government has refused to respond to a Freedom of Information request seeking funding details of the initiative among other things.
Two months after Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, announced the creation of a food bank initiative, dubbed the “Food Kitchen," the programme has yet to commence.
This is coming as the state government has refused to respond to a Freedom of Information request seeking funding details of the initiative among other things.
Recall that on the 22nd of February 2024, during a Media Chat held at the Lagos House, Marina, the governor spoke on some of the steps to be taken by the state government to ameliorate the economic hardship facing residents of the state.
One of the promises made by the governor is to implement the Food Kitchen, which according to the governor will ”Identify Mama Put (Caterers) and feed between 1,000 – 1,500 in every local government per day at the first instance for the next 30 – 60 days”.
The Lagos Food Bank initiative was announced with the government setting up Lagos State Special Dispensation “Palliative” Advisory Committee. The committee has the Governor as the chairman and his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, as the alternate chairman.
With no reason or explanation given, the initiative is yet to commence after two months despite promising to provide relief to residents struggling with economic hardship.
The delay in launching the food bank initiative and the government's refusal to disclose funding details deepens concerns about transparency and accountability in the running of the state affairs.
Adding to the uncertainty, the Lagos State Government has refused to respond to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request filed by a journalist, Oyetunde Oluwatobi.
Submitted on the 8th of April 2024, the FoI made pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, was submitted to the office of the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho.
The FoI request sought answers to crucial questions, including: the list comprising of the names and addresses of the identified Mama Put (Caterers) disaggregated by local government areas; records detailing how much the state government requested (from whom or from where? State Assembly or Federal Government?) and is willing to spend on the initiative; instrument or criteria used to select vendors per LGA; and breakdown of how much is to be paid per vendor in each LGA.
Despite the legal requirement to respond within seven days, the Lagos State Government has failed to provide any information or acknowledge the request.