Okon Bassey in Uyo Over 5,000 vulnerable persons yesterday benefited from the free distribution of rice, beans and garri donated by the Akwa Ibom State government to cushion the effects of the economic hardship being face by the citizens in the country. The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has in the height of the economic challenges the nation is passing through told the indigent citizens in the state of his administration’s determination to cater for their welfare. To achieve this, he set up the State Bulk Purchase Agency with the mandate to source, buy and share staple foodstuffs like garri, rice and beans free to the vulnerable persons throughout the state.
Executing the second phase of the palliative distribution Monday, at the Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Council headquarters of the state, the general manager of the State Bulk Purchase Agency, Hon. Uyime Etim, explained that the agency is relying on the world bank endorsed register for the vulnerable to choose the beneficiaries. “The governor’s personal assistants in the council wards were directed to issue vouchers to only those in the register and all they do is to come here, authenticate their voucher and return home with the food stuffs.
“What we are doing today is to cushion the effects of the harsh economy on the people; it’s a temporary measure but the governor has encouraged the people to return fully to agriculture and farming for lasting solution to the challenges of hunger and poverty,�.