The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Umo Eno, has stated that under his food palliative programme, the less-privileged captured in the social register will now be given the food items for free.

Eno disclosed this at Etinan and Uyo Local Government Areas while flagging-off the construction of two major roads, the 8.6km Ediene Abak-Ikot Ekan Road project, and the 7.86km Ring Road III dual carriageway projects spanning Idoro Road in Uyo through Ibiono Ibom to Itak in Ikono LGA.

The governor disclosed that contrary to the initial provisions that the less-privileged would buy the food items at subsidised rates, he was going to make the food available to them at no cost.

He said the food intervention programme would be flagged -off next Tuesday with the launching of the Bulk Purchase food vouchers at a designated markets in the state, after which the agents would be unveiled to carry out the scheme in all parts of the state.

According to him, “My personal assistants from the wards would be given the vouchers, and they will verify your names in the social register before giving you the voucher, and after you will take it to redeem the food item from our redemption centres.

“Before the end of this week, we will publish the names of all the redemption centres. And once you get the voucher, you go and get the food item absolutely for free. If it is rice, it will be 5kg bags of rice each.”

The governor, however, reiterated his call on all local government transition chairmen and members of the public to return to the farms and make food available, adding that he has charged the Ministry of Agriculture to make inputs available for ease of productivity among farmers in the state.

“I look forward to local government chairmen who will invite me to come and inspect the progress recorded in their respective farms,” the governor stated.

Eno thanked the people for voting him into office a year ago during the elections, and said the roads construction flag-off ceremonies, which started in Eket senatorial district, had taken him to Ikot Ekpene senatorial district before coming to Uyo senatorial district, announcing a further increase from the initial target of 18 roads to 20 roads.

He sued for cooperation with the contractors handling projects across the state, warning that the government would deal decisively with any community or its leader, if they embark on actions that would stall the progress of any project.

Giving insights on the roads, the state Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Prof Eno Ibanga, explained that a foreign contractor, J. P. Sigma, was to deliver the Abak-Etinan Road in two years while the Idoro-Itak Ikot Ide road will be handled by an indigenous contractor, Hensek Integrated Services, and promised that his ministry would ensure supervision to properly translate Governor Eno’s vision in road infrastructure to concrete reality. (THISDAY)

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