Gov Eno set to Implement Bulk food Purchase With Launching of Food Voucher Distribution
By Emmanuel Uffot
The implementation of the Bulk Food Purchase initiative by Governor Umo Eno is kick starting with the launching of the food vouchers by the Governor.
The launch which will take place on Tuesday March 26, 2024 will take place at Itam Market in Itu Local Government Area by 11am.
Prior to the launch, a Committee to steer the bulk purchase was by the Governor last week.
The Bulk Food Purchase Board has Hon Dan Akpan as Chairman, Barrister Uyime Etim as General Manager/ Secretary and Commissioners of Economic Development, Agriculture and Natural Resources and Justice as members.
Other members include Personal Assistant to the Governor on market matters, representative of Nigerian Labour Congress and representative of market union among others.
The committee will drive the policy which will see the selling of essential food items like garri, rice and beans to residents of Akwa Ibom at designated markets across the state at subsidised rates.
The purchase will be through a voucher which will be collected from personal sides of the Governor in the over 300 wards that were appointed recently.
However, for the less privileged and those Government termed the vulnerable, they are to collect the food free on presentation of the vouchers while others will pay a fraction of the sum for the food items they purchased while government will subsidised the balance.
It could be recalled that Governor Eno, in the heat of the current high cost of food, had sent an executive bill on the establishment of Bulk Purchase Agency to the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
The bill received accelerated hearing, and was thereafter passed by the House and assented into law by the governor.
Under the arrangement, Government through the Committee will buy food in bulk and sell them to the people at low price through the accredited agents at designated markets across the state.
