Subsidy removal: Makinde rolls out palliatives, unveils ‘SAfER’ package for Oyo residents

Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, has rolled out palliative measures to cushion the impact of the petrol subsidy removal and the rising cost of living on the residents of the state.

In a statewide broadcast on Saturday night, Makinde shared what he called “short-term plans which will play a huge role in alleviating the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy and the resultant economic difficulties being faced by our people”.

He said he has given directives that the number of government buses on various routes in Ibadan, the capital city, should be increased while commuters would enjoy the reduced fares.

The governor said he has made “wide consultations” and taken decisions that will benefit the people of the state, adding that the government decided to use “economic packages to stimulate our economy and bring about sustainable development”.

“Therefore, the Oyo state government has resolved to take the following actions tagged sustainable actions for economic recovery (SAfER),” he said.

“Our SAfER package will ensure a softer landing for the poorest of the poor and the most vulnerable in our society.

“It will also address the need for food security through direct intervention to our farmers. Additionally, we shall be making provisions that will ease the transportation pains of our civil servants and other residents of Oyo state.”

Makinde said the government has updated the state’s social register to include 200,000 of the “poorest of the poor” who would be provided with immediate food relief packages.

“We will be providing health insurance for 100,000 of our most vulnerable households. We will be paying their one-year health insurance premium under the Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA) scheme so that they have access to quality healthcare without paying out of pocket,” he said.

“The Omituntun bus service will be extended to cover inter-city routes from Ibadan to all other zones of Oyo state. So, we will have the buses going from Ibadan to Ibarapa, Ibadan to Ogbomoso, Ibadan to Oke-Ogun and Ibadan to Oyo.

“The fares will be kept at low rates, while our senior citizens and students will board the buses at half price.”

PALLIATIVES FOR FARMERS, YOUTHS

The Oyo governor said 10,000 farmers in the state will get inputs in addition to support being provided under the World Bank-assisted OYS-CARES programme.

He added that youth agropreneurs who were trained under the state’s youth entrepreneurship in agribusiness project (YEAP) and have established businesses, will receive enterprise support under the SAfER package.

“We have committed N500 million for this purpose. The beneficiaries will get further directives on this from the relevant agencies,” Makinde said.

“We have committed a further N500 million to assist small businesses to stay afloat through low-interest-rate loans. Our traders, artisans and other small business operators can apply for these loans through designated micro-finance banks.”

Makinde further said students of tertiary institutions in the state will board the government buses at half fare upon showing their school identity cards.

“We will also be meeting with their student leaders to agree on further measures which will be added to the SAfER package for students,” he added.