By SCM Staff Writer I Wednesday October 29, 2025
LAGOS, Nigeria — A thousand struggling families in Nigeria’s bustling economic hub were given a huge boost this week after the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, distributed a massive ₦460 million (over N400,000) in emergency financial aid.
The scheme, dubbed “Eko Cares,” saw cheques ranging from ₦300,000 to a staggering ₦1.5 million (N260 to N1,300) handed out to vulnerable residents in a touching ceremony on Wednesday.
The cash is a true lifeline, meant to cover everything from urgent medical bills and school fees to business start-up capital and rent, with a special focus on people with disabilities.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, represented by his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, stressed that the giveaway was about “compassion and our shared humanity.”
”This presentation of cheques… is not just a ceremony; it is a celebration of compassion,” the Governor said, calling the aid a “seed of hope” that beneficiaries must use wisely. “The government can open doors, but it is your determination that keeps them wide open,” he advised.
The huge handout is part of a larger government commitment that has already seen ₦1.1 billion distributed to nearly 2,500 people in the state this year alone, with another ₦1.6 billion earmarked for more aid.
Dr Afolabi Tajudeen, the Governor’s Special Adviser, said the initiative proves the government’s commitment to “ensuring that every resident has a fair chance to thrive,” adding that “no resident will be left behind.”
The funds, which have been a “beacon of hope” since the programme launched in 2020, are already making a “real difference in the lives of thousands across the state” by helping residents tackle “economic hurdles, foster inclusion and stability and bring back hope and dignity.”
Beneficiaries at the Agidingbi event were reportedly full of praise, thanking the Lagos State Government for “putting smiles on their faces and alleviating their sufferings” with the crucial cash injection.
