By Ekemini James
It is no longer news that the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, will on Thursday, March 14, 2024, sign into Law, the Purchase Agency Bill recently passed by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. What is news, is the implications of the Bill to Akwa Ibom people, especially, in the face of the harsh economic realities facing the country.
In fulfilment of the Governor’s campaign promises and in line with the policy direction of his ARISE Agenda, Pastor Umo Eno, through the Bulk Purchase Bill, is out to ensure food security and sufficiency, as well as develop value chains of agricultural produce from the state.
The Bulk Purchase Bill is not only a timely response to the current food crisis in the country, but a move that shows that Akwa Ibom is blessed with a responsible and forward-thinking leader. When signed into Law, the Bill will help mitigate the high cost of food stuff and further improve the socio-economic well-being at the grassroots level through the availability of food items at subsidized rates.
The Bulk Purchase Agency will aid the purchase of important food items like rice, beans, garri etc in commercial quantities and same sold at various designated depots at minimal rates. The Agency will also partner market associations and unions for proper coordination and supply, formulate long and short term policies for the purchase and sales of food items in the State, control and monitor the distribution and sale of food items in the State, advise the government on the best method of distribution, as well as formulate strategies accordingly.
To ensure transparency in the implementation process of the food subsidy initiative, vouchers will be distributed to targeted beneficiaries through Personal Assistants to the Governor, across the 368 wards of the state.
The state government having met with the leadership of the Traders, will begin selection of agents for accreditation. After being constituted, the agency will involve competent traders who after capacity validation, will be chosen to man branded shops and redemption centers located in select markets and Wards across the 31 Local Government Areas of the state.
Upon validation, all accredited agents will be made to sign an agreement with the bulk purchase agency, while their names will be duly published for the masses to know, the social register will be used, therefore, there will be no room for compromise.
As a defensive mechanism to address a situation where some traders may want to thwart the initiative, the state government will have a buffer warehouse where food will be bought and stocked, and in the event where they try to sabotage the good intention of the government, the government will release the stocks and flood the market to ensure availability of food.
Noteworthy is the fact that the government is not coming to compete with, or crash prices for traders, but rather, to collaborate and work with them. Also, there will be some incentives in place for the accredited agents; during reconciliation of vouchers, a certain percentage will be made available to them as motivation in addition to other entitlements.
As Governor Umo Eno prepares to append his signature to this Bill, the people of Akwa Ibom State stand on the cusp of a transformative economic shift. This initiative is poised to usher in an era of increased food availability, accessibility and affordability, bolstering the state’s commitment to eradicating hunger and enhancing the quality of life for its citizens.
With the Bulk Purchase Agency set to become a cornerstone of the state’s agricultural policy, Governor Umo Eno’s vision for a self-sufficient and economically robust Akwa Ibom is gradually becoming a tangible reality. This reflects the collective hope for a future where prosperity is cultivated in our own oil, and a course where no Akwa Ibomite is left behind in the march towards sustainability and progress.
