Akwa Ibom State government is set to distribute 20 bags of 25kg rice to each gazetted villages in the state to mitigate the current hardship faced by citizens.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. (Mrs.) Offiong Offor made the disclosure on Friday during a press briefing in Uyo.
This according Offor was in addition to the over 100,000 families from the social register who have already received free food items from the state government through the Bulk Purchase Agency.
Offor disclosed that the state Governor, Pastor Umo Eno has added 24,000 extra bags of 25kg to the 24,000 bags donated by the federal government, stressing that the initiative was to enable more families to benefit from it.
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| Commissioner for Economic Development, Emem Bob (l) Commissioner for Agriculture ad Rural Development, Dr Offiong Offor (m), Commissioner for Information, Hon Ini Ememobong during the press briefing |
"Governor Eno has decided to augment the federal government's donation by adding 24,000 bags to their 24,000 bags of 25kg rice. This initiative aims to reach more families with much-needed support".
Offor who was flanked by Commissioner for Information, Hon Ini Ememobong, Commissioner for Economic Development, Hon Emem Bob, Hon Dan Akpan and Hon Aniekan Umanah, said the distribution will take place at local government headquarters where council chairman will ensure safe transportation to various villages.
Full text of the briefing: Press Briefing by the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. (Mrs.) Offiong Offor
Dear members of the press,
We are currently facing a significant developmental challenge: hunger caused by food insufficiency, unavailability, and inflation. This issue, a direct result of macro-economic factors, poses a challenge to both federal and state governments. According to our leader, Governor Umo Eno, times like these require creative thinking and taking responsibility, rather than indulging in blame games, which only worsen the situation.
In response, Governor Eno has decided to augment the federal government's donation by adding 24,000 bags to their 24,000 bags of 25kg rice. This initiative aims to reach more families with much-needed support.
Governor Eno has expressed his profound appreciation to the Federal Government for their care and responsiveness during this critical time, highlighting their alignment with the current struggles faced by our citizens.
Through this food intervention, each of the 2,272 gazetted villages in the state will receive 20 bags of rice. This is in addition to the over 100,000 families from the social register who have already received, or will soon receive, free food items from the state government through the Bulk Purchase Agency.
This intervention aims to mitigate the hardship currently faced by our citizens, reducing extreme hunger and poverty in line with Sustainable Development Goal 1. A hungry populace can lead to unrest, making food availability, affordability, and security a priority for this administration. Our long-term solution is the Back to Farm Initiative, promoting local food production, and designating the first and third Fridays of the month as work-free farming days.
The Ministry of Agriculture has implemented several strategic interventions, including distributing cassava cuttings, maize grains, pepper seedlings, and coconut seedlings to 135 public primary and secondary schools. Additionally, we have distributed 150,000 cocoa seedlings to cocoa farmers, 40,000 oil palm seedlings to oil palm farmers, 80,000 pepper seedlings to vegetable farmers, 20 metric tonnes of rice shared to rice farmers across the state, and livestock and poultry supplies to poultry farmers.
Furthermore, we have provided livelihood grants of N150,000 to 1,560 beneficiaries and agricultural inputs and services to 900 farmers under the AKCARES Scheme.
The distribution of the Federal and State Governments' food intervention will occur at Local Government Council Headquarters, from where Council Chairmen will ensure the safe transportation of 20 bags to each gazetted village. Distribution dates will be announced soon.
Thank you all for your attention and participation in this briefing. We hope you will serve as our ambassadors.
Thank you.
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