adsOver N2.13 billion has been disbursed to 3,301 vulnerable residents of Lagos within the last year under the state’s Eko Cares Financial Assistance Programme, underscoring an aggressive expansion of social protection spending amid mounting economic pressure on households.
The latest intervention pushes cumulative disbursements under the programme above N4.6 billion since 2020, with 11,991 households benefitting from various forms of state-backed welfare support, according to Afolabi Tajudeen, Special Adviser to the state government on Political, Legislative and Civic Engagement.
Speaking on Monday, Tajudeen said the state had earmarked N3.14 billion for the programme in the 2026 fiscal year, signalling plans to deepen social spending as inflation, rising food costs and declining purchasing power continue to strain low-income residents.
The intervention spans direct cash transfers, medical bill support, educational assistance, housing aid and business start-up funding targeted at indigent residents, women, elderly citizens and persons living with disabilities.
Analysts say the scale of the programme reflects a broader shift by subnational governments toward welfare-driven economic stabilisation policies as Nigeria grapples with persistent cost-of-living challenges.adsads
