The Media Consultant to Governor Umo Eno on Media Hon. Aniekan Umanah says the feedback being received across the 31 local government areas in the State since the launch of the Arise Food Initiative has been positive.
Featuring on a live radio program, Arise Akwa Ibom on Inspiration FM, Wednesday, Hon. Umanah who is a member of the State government’s steering committee on the food security initiative, disclosed that so far, the beneficiaries of the free food program of the government have been pouring encomiums on the Governor for putting up such a laudable programme.
“There has been very good feedback. We’ve gone around the 31 Local Government Areas, we’ve seen people redeem their vouchers, we’ve seen people clutching their food Items, holding them dear, and you could see the smiles, the happiness radiating. The feedback has been positive. They are full of praises, full of prayers for the Governor for this intervention”.
“The program will continue to broaden and expand. It will move from every cranny, every ward in the State, so people won’t have to move long distances to receive their food items”.
Mr Umanah further explained that beyond the free food initiative, the State government is targeting food sufficiency, food availability and price stability holistically through the back-to-farm initiative, hinting that the Ministry of Agriculture is working round the clock in this direction, with the recent flag off of the new planting season, distribution of farm inputs, and Implements to farmers, as well as encouraging students to engage in farming.
Umanah, a former Information Commissioner and former Member of the National Assembly, remarked that these deliberate efforts by the current administration in the agricultural sector were in line with the Arise Agenda of the government which aims at connecting the dots to ensure there is food sufficiency and price stability in the State.
“If everybody engages in farming, food would naturally be cheap. So, we’ve connected the dots”.
Meanwhile, the Akwa Ibom State Bulk Purchase Agency (AKPBA) has commenced a two-day “ICT Training” session for Ward Personal Assistant’s PA’s to the Governor on the use and management of the Social Register and issuance of the food vouchers. The training which is aimed at ensuring that the aides get acquainted with the operation of the tablets recently acquired by the government for food voucher issuance, commenced on Wednesday and would be rounded off Thursday.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on ICT, Dr Frank Ekpeyong is handling the training which is ongoing at the office of the Bulk Purchase Agency at Ewet Housing Estate in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
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