By Emmanuel Uffot
The Akwa Ibom State Governor Pastor Umo Eno yesterday September 6, 2023 flag off the distribution of rice as part of the Palliatives he has put on ground to support the Federal Government efforts to cushion the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy.
A total of 107,200 bags of rice is being distributed across the state. Out of this number, 7,200 bags of rice and N2 billion came from the Federal Government while the state augmented it with 100,000 bags government said were bought at N40,000 per bag. Under the schedule of distribution, each of the villages in the 31 local government areas in Akwa Ibom State numbering 2,272 according to gazzeted records will receive 40 bags of rice each. The rice for the villages is being distributed to the Local government councils through their respective Chairmen who will then distribute them to the villages through the village heads.
Apart from the villages, the Governor has mandated that the rice should also be distributed to the Igbo Community, Niger Delta Community, Hausa Community and Yoruba Community residing in the state as well as security agencies among others.
Apart from rice, Governor Umo Eno has also reel out some other forms of Palliatives and incentives to state workers, pupils and students in public schools as well as retirees, traders and public transporters. undergraduates of State origin in all tertiary institutions across the country.
Accordingly, the state government is to provide free exercise books to pupils and students in public schools in the State while state ahead of school resumption next Monday September 11, 2022 while undergraduates from the state in tertiary institutions in the country are to receive N10,000 each as bursary. Also to benefit are government workers and pensioners. They are to collect N10,000 each as allowance for three months beginning from September.
Similarly, the state government has fixed Friday as ticket free day for commercial transport operators and traders in all the 31 local government areas.
Those to benefit from this incentive, are Mini bus drivers, Tricycle (Keke) operators, commercial taxis operating in recognised motor parks and traders. The positive implication of this is those listed in this category will not buy daily ticket on Fridays.
It could be recalled that Governor Eno had approved the release of N1billion from state coffers to augment the Palliatives from the Federal Government.
Again for effective distribution of the rice and other Palliatives initiated by Governor Eno had constituted an 18-man Palliative Implementation Committee headed by the Secretary to the State Government Mr Enobong Uwah to ensure effective and equitable distribution of the items.
Given the pessimism raised by concern people that the Palliatives may not get to the people Intended for based on the bad experience witnessed during the period of Covid- 19, the Governor tasked the Committee to ensure it gets to the larger population across the state especially those in the rural areas.
In his speech to mark his 100 days in office, Governor Eno recalled that during his inauguration, he presented to the people his ARISE Agenda and pledged to be guided by it, and stressed that in the past 100 days, his government without mincing words has got the ground running.
Apart from commissioning of Inner roads in the main market in Uyo which he initiated its construction two months ago, Governor Eno reel out his modest achievements so far to include providing of funds for the payment of backlog of gratuities to retired primary school teachers, retired local government and state government workers as well as payment of subventions heads of Primary and Secondary schools from last term and the coming first term.
He said his government has established an Agency known as the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project ( RAAMP) with the sole aim of driving rural development to curb rural urban migration.
On agricultural revolution, he said his government has acquired a total of 50,000 hectares of land in all the 31 local government areas to boost agricultural revolution in line with his ARISE Agenda. In addition to this, the Governor said his government has signed an MOU ( Memorandum of Understanding) with a renowned farm manager Songhai Farms to start a model farm in the State.
He also said he has approved the construction of model primary schools and Primary Healthcare across the three senatorial districts. Noting that work has already begun in one of the pilot model primary schools being Christ the King School ( CKS), Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo.
He further pledged his commitment to consistently pay the backlog of gratuities with the sum of three billion Naira set aside for that purpose.
He said government has contributed N5 billion to the Palliatives scheme which has enabled the allowance to workers, bursary to undergraduates, exercise books to primary and secondary schools among others.
Just like he said during his Inauguration on May 29 this year, the governor again extended olive branch to those in opposition parties to come on board for the building of the state together, noting” Politics is over”.
It could be recalled that recently, the Commissioner of Information and Strategy Mr Ini Ememobong had highlighted some achievements of Governor Umo Eno so far.
They included the ” One Project Per Local Government Scheme” which will enable the siting of one government project in each of the 31 Local Government Areas.
In furtherance of initiating more Palliatives to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal, the state government is said to be mooting a mass transit scheme with machinery put in motion for the roll out of Mass Transit buses and electric cars for public transportation. The Government buses we gathered will come with relatively low subsidised fares.
Also noted as part of the governor’s achievements so far is the various flood control and erosion intervention in Uyo, specifically in Atiku Avenue.
The flag off of the distribution of rice to three local local government areas in Etinan Federal Constituency made up of Nsit Ubium where the Governor comes from, Etinan and Nsit Ibom also formed activities marking the Governor’s 100 days which included the commissioning of the inner roads in Urua Akpanadem, Uyo.
