Akwa Ibom Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has clarified the good intentions of government at initiating the food subsidy programme, reaffirming his determination to ensure due diligence and balancing of interest among traders, government and the targeted beneficiaries.
The Governor gave the clarification while addressing staple food traders and market associations at Government House, Uyo, as part of consultations with stakeholders and strategic partners involved in the food subsidy programme.
Governor Eno used the event to thank the traders for their support towards his emergence as governor in the 2023 election and assured that he would continuously express appreciation to Akwa Ibom people through life-touching programmes and good governance.
Accordingly, the governor expressed optimism that the food voucher initiative will yield best results in the implementation of the food subsidy programme and urged the traders to partner with government as vendors with assurances that modalities have been put in place to ensure accountability, transparency and adequate management of the vouchers.
He also said that people in rural communities who desire to participate in the programme can subscribe and get enlisted as vendors and make genuine business out of it.
He however cautioned that while government is determined to help traders in the state stay in business, it will not hesitate to utilize its bulk purchase programme to crash food prices through direct sale to the people at discounted rates if traders attempt to become clogs in the wheel of progress.
Nevertheless, the Akwa Ibom Chief Executive reaffirmed that the food subsidy programme is only a palliative measure to help the people survive the food crisis while awaiting their yield, hence cannot be sustained for too long,.
Then reiterated his call for Akwa Ibom inidgenes from all walks of life to return to the farm.
In her earlier tone-setting remarks, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Offiong Offor, described Governor Umo Eno’s food subsidy programme as a pace setting initiative and an expression of his deep concern for the welfare of the people.
Dr. Offor said the meeting was to create a platform for the people-loving governor to interact with traders and leaders of main market associations across the state, as key players in the food distribution chain and chart the course of ensuring that foodstuff gets to Akwa Ibom people at affordable rate.
She solicited for the cooperation of traders while urging them to utilize the opportunity to be part of the success story of realizing the good intentions of government.
Speaking on behalf of the traders, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Market, Mr. Idorenyin Raphael, thanked the governor for having the interest of traders at heart, describing the Bulk Purchase Law awaiting executive assent as an unprecendented demonstration of concern for the common citizens.
He assured the governor of the loyalty and support of traders for the government’s lofty initiative of making staple foods available at affordable prices.
