For residents of Oyo state, they are enjoying the benefits of fuel subsidy removal in so many sector. BAYO AGBOOLA reports.
Oyo state government in making the people of the state feel the impacts of the accruals from the improved federal allocation arising from the subsidy removal established the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) to mitigate the economic challenges faced by its residents with its key objective to alleviate poverty and improve the welfare of Oyo state residents, focusing on the most vulnerable populations.
SAfER, according to investigations, has as its components. Part of it is food relief packages for the distribution of food items to 200,000 poorest households in the state. This involves about 100,000 bags of rice, beans and other food items already distributed in the second phase.
There is also the provision of one-year health insurance for 100,000 vulnerable households.
Added to this is loans for small entrepreneurs. It is a N500 million loan support for small and medium-scale enterprises, with forms available for collection from seven microfinance banks in the state.
Also, agricultural support to the tune of N1 billion loan support for farmers, with inputs and subsidies provided to boost agricultural productivity.
Transportation support is also part of it as 46 buses are provided at subsidised rates for commuters, with 50 additional luxurious buses planned.
Finally, the programme has received support from the Aliko Dangote Foundation, which donated 30,000 bags of 10kg rice to the state.
The Oyo state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Ademola Babalola while speaking on the utilisation and impacts of the accruals on poverty alleviation initiatives said in Oyo state, Gov Seyi Makinde came up with a number of policies and programmes aimed at alleviating the sufferings of workers and the people of the state especially the masses.
“When the problem of fuel subsidy removal happened, Seyi Makinde took it upon himself and came up with a number of policies and programmes aimed at alleviating the sufferings of workers and the people.”
He stressed that, “Majorly, it was the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER). Through this programme, the government was able to reach the nooks and crannies of the state.The government was able to distribute seedlings to farmers and other things to the non-agricultural sectors like the poorest of the poor, the masses and loans to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) at a single digit interest rate to ensure that Oyo state people are living better.”
On the transportation sector, the chairman/sole administrator of the Pacesetter Transport Services, Dr Ibrahim Oladeji Dikko said Oyo state government has committed N2.1billion to subsidise transportation for the people of the state under the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) to cushion the effects of subsidy removal on the people of the state between August 5th, 2023, when Governor ‘Seyi Makinde announced SAfER, till date.
According to Dr Oladeji Dikko, Oyo state government subsidised transport fare for 5,880,000 passengers under the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) between January and July 2025 while the Pacesetter Transport Services was able to commute 9,950,000 passengers in 2024, saying, “The SAfER transport initiative was introduced by the governor to mitigate the economic hardship facing residents of the state, students, pensioners, the aged, people living with disabilities and other residents enjoy subsidised transportation in the state-owned Pacesetter Buses on different intra-city and inter-city routes.
“Since August 5 2023, when Governor ‘Seyi Makinde announced SAfER, till date, the state government has spent N2,151,000,000 to subsidise transportation for the people. Between August 5 and December 2023, the governor invested N541 million in subsidising transport fare by 50 per cent for residents of the state. We commuted between 26,000 and 30,000 people on a daily basis in 2023. In 2024, the governor invested N924 million and we commuted over 9,950,000 people in 2024.This year, as we speak, the governor has invested N686 million and so far, from January to date, we have commuted about 5,880,000 passengers.”