Akwa Ibom government has reiterated the call for people in the state to head to farm to enhance adequate food production.
This was as ARISE Food Security Programme of the Governor Umo Eno-led administration hit Oruk Anam and the people celebrated the life-saving intervention of the third phase of the free food distribution.
While reiterating its call for the citizens to return to the farm as a more sustainable solution to hunger, the State Government assured that the periodic intervention of free staple food distribution to the vulnerable people at the grassroots will keep coming in phases, to cushion economic hardship.
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Speaking during the phase 3 of the ARISE Food Distribution Programme at the Oruk Anam Local Government Council Secretariat, Ikot Ibritam, on Friday, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Princess Emem Ibanga maintained that the food distribution programme was just a temporary intervention of the state government, stressing the need to heed the call for all to take to farming as means to sustainable food security.
Ibanga lauded the people for their gratitude towards the Governor’s gesture and their confidence in the judicious administration of the commodities through the per-Ward Personal Assistants.
“The people are happy because we have a governor that is proactive and when he says a thing, he does it. This is the third phase of this interventionist programme. What I can only tell the people of Oruk Anam is that while the governor emphasizes that we go back to the farm as a step to quenching hunger, this is a temporary intervention. It will keep coming, in phases, but we must as a people return to the farm.
The General Manager, Akwa Ibom Bulk Purchase Agency, Hon. Unyime Etim, who directed the distribution, assured the people to maintain their confidence in the Ward PAs’ ability do due diligence in liaising with the agency to transmit the food to deserving citizens.
Conveying the gratitude of Oruk Anam people over the free food programme, the Chairman of Council, Elder Festus Akpan, said Governor Umo Eno has outperformed the proposition of naysayers who mistook him as a green horn in politics, hence selling doubts about his ability to perform in government.
Former House Member representing Oruk Anam State Constituency, now Honourary Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour Matters, Rt Hon Udo Kerian, corroborated the position as he described the gesture as timely and lifesaving, given the increasing difficulty in surviving the rainy season.
The Councillors, Ward PAs, community leaders and recipients in their various ways expressed gratitude for the gifts.
For Mr. Esitmbom Friday John, a.k.a. Paparazzi, the food items has brought relief to the villagers while transparency in the distribution has given the people a lot of confidence in Governor Umo Eno’s administration.
