Michael Ofulue, Osogbo

Osun State Government has distributed free food items to 30,000 vulnerable households under its monthly food support scheme.

Speaking during the distribution, Governor Gboyega Oyetola, said that the food support scheme had benefitted more than 570,000 vulnerable households since inception.

Represented by the Head of Service, Dr Festus Oyebade, the governor said that the free food distribution, which was the 19th edition, had come to stay in view of its wide acceptance by the citizens to whom it was targeted.

Oyetola, who expressed satisfaction with the impact of the scheme on the lives of the beneficiaries, said God had helped him to keep to his electoral promises.

“This edition indeed marks the 19th of its kind as 570,000 households had benefitted directly across the three senatorial districts of the state.

“This is done with no recourse to political, religious and social affiliation.

“In spite of the fact that the price of rice continues to soar, we keep faith with our promise.

“It is a covenant I have vowed to fulfil till my last day in office”, he said.

The commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Mr Olalekan Badmus, said the choice of rice for distribution was informed by the need to balance and meet the immediate needs of the beneficiaries.

“We have in the past considered local producers and that is why we have been doing some of the local food items.

“This time around, we felt it is also important to distribute rice to our people.

“The aim of the programme is still very much intact. That is why we have remained very consistent,” the commissioner said.