By Peter Dansu The Executive Chairman of Badagry Local Government, Babatunde Hunpe , has explained why his administration deliberately prio...
By Peter Dansu
The Executive Chairman of Badagry Local Government, Babatunde Hunpe, has explained why his administration deliberately prioritised widows, artisans, petty traders and other vulnerable residents in the third batch of the Renewed Hope Asiwaju Cash Transfer scheme, as another 200 beneficiaries received financial support at the Council Secretariat.
Hon. Hunpe, while officially flagging off the latest disbursement, said the programme was designed to reach those most affected by economic hardship, stressing that true governance must focus on lifting the weakest members of society.
The empowerment initiative, which was first launched during the Chairman’s 109 Days in Office commemoration, began with 200 beneficiaries and is structured to run for 20 months, with a target of 4,000 residents across Badagry Local Government. Before the third batch, another 200 people including widows, widowers, market men and women, artisans, the elderly and other vulnerable groups had already benefitted.
According to Hunpe, the cash transfer scheme is a grassroots reflection of the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that increased allocations to local governments must be felt directly by ordinary citizens.
“Our focus on widows, artisans and vulnerable residents is deliberate,” he said. “These are people who carry the heaviest burden of the economy. If we can support them at the right time, we are not just giving money, we are restoring dignity, stabilising homes and helping small businesses survive.”
The Chairman acknowledged that some critics often describe such interventions as stomach infrastructure, but insisted that responsive leadership requires timely relief for citizens facing real-life challenges.
“When people are hungry, struggling, and unable to keep their businesses afloat, government must step in. Empowerment is not a slogan, it is a responsibility,” he added.
Hunpe further assured that the scheme remains inclusive and non partisan, stressing that beneficiaries are selected across communities without regard for political affiliation.
He urged recipients to use the funds wisely, warning against wasteful spending that could undermine the purpose of the programme, which is aimed at economic stability and micro enterprise growth.
To guarantee transparency and accountability, the Chairman disclosed that the council has fully documented the names, addresses and contact details of all beneficiaries for proper monitoring and evaluation.
In her remarks, the Council Manager, Olusanya Mary Abosede, praised the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention for families and small business owners battling rising costs of living. She encouraged beneficiaries to invest the support into productive ventures that would improve household income.
The event was attended by key officials, including Yahaya Lateef of the Lagos State Civil Service Commission, councillors led by the Leader of the House Asokere Mautin Bankole, the Chief of Staff to the Chairman Taiwo Towolawi, the Chief Security Adviser Adagba Johnson, and members of the council’s management team.
With the third batch completed, the Hunpe administration reaffirmed its resolve to continue people focused programmes that directly address poverty, boost small businesses, and improve the living conditions of residents across Badagry.
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