Pastor Umo Eno, the governor of Akwa Ibom State, has begun rice distribution programme, targeted at the 2,272 gazetted villages across the State.
The programme is part of the initiatives of the Governor to alleviate the effects of the fuel subsidy removal on residents in the State.
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Speaking at the commencement of the distribution process on Friday, Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Offiong Offor, maintained that Governor Eno had doubled the initial 24,000 bags of rice received from the Federal Government to 48,000 bags, demonstrating his compassionate disposition.
Offor, who said that the distribution process would be completed within record time, assured residents that the process would be transparent, with local government chairmen making use of their village heads, village councils and stakeholders to ensure the palliatives reach everyone without hindrances.
The beneficiaries will include not only villagers but also persons living with disabilities and special groups, regardless of their status.
Recall that the Governor, since last year when the fuel subsidy was removed, embarked on different initiatives to ameliorate the sufferings of the people in the state
The initiatives include the donation of five billion naira to complement the Federal Government palliatives, the institution of the Bulk Purchase Agency, where food items are given free to the neediest across the state, paid more than twenty billion naira gratuities to retired State civil servants, primary and local government workers
The governor also introduced the 13th month salary to workers at the end of last year before paying an additional 20,000 naira to each civil servant in the state, in line with his workers-friendly disposition, and the building and donating of 400 fully furnished 2-bedroom homes to the most vulnerable people across the 368 wards in the state.