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18/04/2024

PRESS RELEASE

GOVERNOR ENO CONDOLES LATE SYLVANUS UKPONG’S FAMILY

…says no hiding place for criminals in Akwa Ibom

…offers scholarship to deceased daughter and automatic employment to widow

Still playing his role as a compassionate leader, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, yesterday, paid a condolence visit to the family of late Sylvanus Ukpong, the Chief Executive Officer of Emem Farms Limited and Emem & Sons Limited, who lost his life, two weeks ago, while returning from his farm.

Governor Eno was deeply touched as he consoled the bereaved family.

“Honestly, this is not the kind of visit I will like to be doing. This is the second time within one week that I am doing ths, and I am heartbroken.

“I have come here today, on behalf of the Government and people of our dear State, to show our compassion and to console the family.

“I want to assure them, government will rally round the family at this time of their bereavement.

“ I am made to understand that the late Slyvanus Ukpong has a daughter, Emem Sylvanus Ukpong who is an SS1 Student.

“We will quickly institute a scholarship scheme up to the university level for her. The Secretary to the State Government will handle this. The funds will be managed by her mother.

“ I also understand her mother, the widow, is currently unemployed and is a trained teacher. We need more trained teachers, so we are offering her an automatic employment into the State Civil Service.”

The Governor also used the opportunity to assure the people that the state is continually safe and peaceful.

“For every criminal that operates or intends to operate in this State, I promise you that you will be caught and dealt with according to the law.
We will make this State exceedingly uncomfortable for them to operate.

“Let me say this, soon, I will be signing an Executive Order wherein any house that secretly harbors criminals will be demolished and the owners prosecuted.”

Responding, Mr Cletus Ukpong, a journalist, and South South Regional Editor of the Premium Times, an online news publication, was effusive in his praise of Governor Eno.

“Your Excellency, on behalf of the family, we sincerely thank you for this visit. When you called me, I remember what I told you. I said to you that we knew you were going to visit us. Why did we know you would come? Because we have seen you; the passion and compassion you have for the people of this State.

“You could have sent a delegation to come and see us, but you have dedicated your life to comforting the afflicted and this is a great testimony to your love for this State and the people. Thank you so very much for this visit, Your Excellency, we deeply and profoundly appreciate you.”

Those who accompanied the Governor on the visit among other stakeholders, were the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah, the Director General of Government Business, Chief Assam Assam, SAN, Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Prof. Eno Ibanga, Commissioner for Lands, Captain Iniobong Ekong (rtd) and Commissioner for Internal Security and Waterways, Brigadier-General Koko Essien (rtd), the CEO of Hensek Integrated Services,Engr. Uwem Okoko, and the Commander of Ibom Community Watch, Isantim Kenneth Okon

Ekerete Udoh
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
April 18, 2024

17/04/2024

Press Release

AKWA IBOM GOVERNOR MEETS PARAMOUNT RULERS, CONSTITUTES A 7-MAN COMMITTEE OVER TRADITIONAL RULERS’ LAW

Playing his dual roles as Akwa Ibom State Governor and a reconciliation Pastor, Governor Umo Eno, this morning, hosted Paramount Rulers drawn from 29 out of the 31 local government areas of the State, to find lasting solutions to the lingering issue arising from the amended Akwa Ibom State Traditional Rulers’ Law, at the State Executive Council Chambers. The Paramount Rulers of Ibeno and Ini Local Government Areas respectively were absent on health grounds.

In an athmosphere of peace and unity, the Governor thanked the Paramount Rulers and assured them of his government’s readiness to work with them to find a lasting solution to the matter.

“ I thank you most sincerely for heeding my call. It is through your support and the support of all Akwaibomites that I was elected to this office.

“I always pray that God will help me to always do my best to satisfy the majority of Akwa Ibom people.

“I have gone to Ibibio, Annang and Oro lands to sue for peace on this issue and let me thank Barrister Ekpenyong Ntekim for accepting to cooperate with us to resolve this matter out of court.

“The position of everyone from your submissions, is that you have all agreed on the principle of rotation for the position of the President -General of Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers.

“We won’t want to meddle into this issue involving our revered traditional fathers. That is why we are setting up a 7- man Committee drawn from this revered body to make recommendations concerning the mode or structure of the rotation and submit the conclusions to us, in two weeks.

“We will thereafter, send the recommendations to the State House of Assembly for further considerations”, the Governor said.

There was a spirit of unanimity in the Chamber on the constitution of the committee by the Governor, as expressed by the following Paramount Rulers: Edidem (Prof.) Amanam Udo, Paramount Ruler of Etim Ekpo and Owong Okon Abang, Paramount Ruler of Mbo as well as Edidem Clement Francis Ekpenyong of Ibesikpo Asutan, who all spoke in total support of the setting up of the committee, on behalf of their colleagues.

In his speech, the Chairman of the State Traditional Rulers Council, Odidem Bassey Etim Edet, thanked the Governor for the excellent manner he has handled the matter and supported the idea of a committee to look into the issue as proposed by the Governor.

Also speaking, the Oku Ibom Ibibio and President General of Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers, His Eminence, Ntenyin Solomon Etuk, CFR, also sued for peace, emphasizing that, “we are all bound by the same cords of unity. It is not about me, it is about the unity and peace of our dear State.

“I am an in- law in Annang land, and my son is married in Udung Uko Local Government Area, in Oro land. We are all one and we must embrace peace for our State to progress”, he said, while expressing support for the committee.

In his vote of thanks, Barr. Ekpenyong Ntekim a Counsel to some Royal Father who had initially instituted a court action on the issue, described Governor Umo Eno as a man of peace.

He thanked the Governor for his ingenuity in setting up the committee and expressed his support, stating that it represents the best way to resolve the lingering issue.

This position was also echoed by the State Attorney General, Mr Uko Udom, SAN.

The members of the constituted 7-Man Committee are:

1. HRM Edidem Etim Charles Daniel Abia,FCA, Paramount Ruler of Eket - Chairman

2. HRM Edidem (Dr.) Edet Akpan Inyang, Paramount Ruler of Itu- Member

3. Edidem(Prof.) Amanam Akpanudo Uko, Paramount Ruler of Etim Ekpo, Member

4. HRM Akuku Okon Udo Ukut, Paramount Ruler of Ikot Ekpene LGA, Member

5. HRM Owong Okon Asukwo Abang, Paramount Ruler of Mbo LGA, Member

6. HRM Edidem Ita Edet Okokon, Paramount Ruler of Okobo LGA, Member

7. HRM Okuku (Dr.) Ime Udousoro Inyang,JP, Paramount Ruler of Ibiono Ibom LGA, Member; while Dr.Emmanuel Umontuen, Secretary, Akwa Ibom Traditional Rulers Council, wil function as the Committee Secretary

Others present at the meeting were the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Elder) Udeme Otong, the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah, Director General of Government Business, Chief Assam Assam,SAN, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Frank Archibong, and the Political Adviser to the Governor, Prince ( Dr.) Godwin Ntukudeh.

Ekerete Udoh
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
April 16, 2024

13/04/2024

Press Release

GOV ENO VISITS FAMILY OF LATE NOLLYWOOD MAKE-UP ARTIST

…offers automatic employment to elder sister
…directs renovation of family house
…promises assistance to the undergraduate sisters

Living to his billing as the epitome of compassion, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, on arrival from an official engagement in Abuja, this afternoon drove straight to the family compound of the late Nollywood make-up artist. Abigail Edith Frederick, in Ikot Udoma, Eket Local Government Area, where he consoled the bereaved family.

Showing deep emotions, Governor Eno, sat with the grieving family members and told them he feels their pain.

“This is deeply unfortunate, a young girl, 24 years old, who, finished her Youth Service just last year, and decided to pursue her passion.

“This is a reflection of our Arise spirit. It shows that our young people are willing to go out there, not begging, not waiting for handouts, but to pursue their passions.

“It is sad and unfortunate that her life ended the way it did.

“Once I was fully briefed, I decided to come here personally with the full complement of Government to console and encourage the family.

“You are not just the Governor when people are celebrating. In times and moments like this, you become the Mourner-in-Chief and give them hope.

“I trust the Holy Spirit will perfect the hope in their lives.

“Coming here means we care. You know Akwa Ibomites are like Americans. We don’t leave each other behind. Government will be with the family and support them.”

The Governor thereafter gave an automatic employment in the State Civil Service to the surviving elder sister of the deceased, and directed the SSA on Humanitarian Services, Umo Ekpo to renovate the family house and bring it to modern standards.

The Governor also assured of Government’s assistance to the two sisters of the bereaved who are undergraduates at the University of Uyo, said to be sponsored by the late Nollywood make- up artist.

Ekerete Udoh
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
April 13, 2024

10/04/2024

A’IBOM GOVT SETS MAY 2024 TIMELINE FOR A CENTRALIZED GAS-DRIVEN POWER SUPPLY

Akwa Ibom State government has moved to end the proliferation of power generators with its attendant menace of noise pollution and excessive carbon emissions at the Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat complex with the setting up of a Central Gas-driven Power Plant to supply electricity within the Secretariat complex.

The one thousand kilowatts power plant, already at advance stage of completion and tie-in to the Secretariat power line, is expected to provide cleaner, cheaper and constant electricity within the Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat before the end of May 2024.

The State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, speaking to newsmen after the inspection tour of the Power Station, expressed satisfaction with the commitment of the contractor to deliver on the project, affirming that the state government's pursuit for a shift in energy source was in line with current global trends in gaining carbon credit against climate change and pollution.

He said, "I am extremely satisfied with the things we have seen at the power Station that will provide power within the Secretariat, using gas.

“Of course you know that is where the world is going right now. I am happy with what the contractor is doing. Few things are left and we should be able to get it started. In the next two to three weeks."

On the power station project, the Commissioner for Power, Engr. Camilus Umoh, said the gas-fired combined one megawatt capacity plant would provide a cleaner, cheaper and more sustainable power to the state government secretariat, placing it in the Band A premium class which guarantees minimum of 20 hours electricity supply daily.

He was emphatic that the new central gas power supply facility would face out the proliferation of small petrol or diesel powered generators, with their associated carbon emissions and unpleasant outlook.

He explained that the use of the plant in the State Secretariat is a pilot project to affirm its workability as a recommendable power facility for clustered government or industrial establishments, attesting to its reliability, compliance with international standards and protocol.

To ensure availability of gas to fuel the plant, Engr. Umoh said provisions have been made for Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, to be lifted from nearest gas depot and be transported in about 200 bar pressured gas canisters and be fed to the generators in a controlled atmospheric pressure, affirming that safety procedures, including blast-resistant walls, are in place to ensure safe operation of the plant.

The Governor who also undertook inspection of the state government-owned Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre, DASAC, at Ikot Ada-Idem, the low-cost housing estates in Ibiaku Ikpedip and Ikot Ukpong, all in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, announced that the Skills Acquisition Centre will commence training on May 20, 2024.

Taking a tour of the hostels, carpentry, products manufacturing and other departments including the snail farm, poultry, piggery and other facilities for agricultural-based production, among other components of the facility, Governor Eno affirmed his satisfaction with the state of completion, lauding the Ministry of Education and the project consultants for the clear interpretation of government's vision to avail the state with a world class vocational training center.

"Like I said during my campaign, everything the previous administration has done, we will take to a logical conclusion. This is one of the legacies of Governor Udom Emmanuel's administration. The courage, the guts he had to do this, we must ensure not to let it die, no, it can not die! Posterity will not forgive us.

"With all of the things Government has done here already, I believe Akwa Ibom is ready to train skilled manpower for the rest of the world. I am pleased about what I am seeing here", the governor said.

He assured of the capacity of the institution to be self-sustaining, clarifying that the state government will only need to kickstart the center with the necessary funding, while the institution gears up and generates enough income to sustain itself and not be dependent on government for funding.

At the low cost housing estate for civil servants, Governor Eno blamed the delay in completion and opening of the estate on lack of access road, a situation which, he said, his administration was currently addressing with the construction of Ring Road 3 Extension.

He announced plans to remodel the primary and secondary schools in the area, provide a health facility, portable water scheme and a police station so as to transform the Ikpedip and Ikot Ukpong axis of Ibiono Ibom into a complete community.

Speaking further, the State Chief Executive premised the gesture on the need to decongest Uyo town and expand the Uyo Capital City Development Area.

During a stop over at the Ring Road 3 Extension recently flagged off, he expressed satisfaction with the progress on the entire stretch of the road from Idoro Road to Uyo-Ikot Ekpene Express Way and lauded the contractor for the swift action.

The Education Commissioner, Mrs. Idongesit Etiebet, who corroborated the May 20th declaration for commencement of training at the DASAC, particularly appreciated the governor for his commitment to boost vocational education in the state, saying that the timeline for commencement of training at the centre was realistic .

Media Unit
Government House, Uyo
10/4/24

09/04/2024

GOV ENO SHARES IFTAR WITH AKWA IBOM MUSLIM COMMUNITY

…institutes N200m interest-free loan
…appoints SSA on Non-indigenes’ Affairs, SA Arewa Community

In continuation of a tradition he has upheld long before he became the Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, last night held an Iftar with the Muslim community in the State, at Government House, Uyo.

Led by the leadership of the Akwa Ibom Council of Islamic Affairs (AKCIA) which comprises, the Chairman, League of Imams in the Stare, Imam Abubakar Sadiq, Alhaji Hassan Sadauki (Sarakin Hausawa, Uyo, Alhaji Maruf Olobode Sani, Imam Ibrahim Okesina, Imam Bello Dahiru, the Governor thanked the Muslim community for their support during last year’s election and for maintaining the harmonious relationship that has existed in the State.

“Last year, when we had this same meeting in Eket, and I said that, if by the Grace of God, and with your support we win the elections, that this year’s Iftar, will be done in Government House.

“We thank God that He answered our prayers.

“Let me use this opportunity to thank the Arewa Community for your support during the elections. It was a massive support. And so if someone did something profoundly significant for you, it’s always good to reach back and say ‘thank you’, which is what we are doing this evening.

“We hope to go round all the groups; the Yoruba community, the Igbos and Niger Delta to tell them” thank you”.

“It was a tough election, but you stood your grounds and supported us.

“I remain eternally grateful and will always work to improve the living conditions of the poor, the vulnerable and those in the rural areas.

“We have a long history of living together, doing business together and trusting each other, and I would like to appeal now that the rains are here, and people are going back to the farms, that we continue to work together to ensure that the herders would conduct their business without destroying people’s farms, because we want to grow more staple foods to feed everyone here. We are not saying, don’t do your business, but in business world, we always say: You must mind how your business affects my business so we can all live harmoniously in peace and brotherhood as we have always done.”

The Governor thereafter, announced a 200 million interest-free loan to the Arewa Community, saying the same interest free loan would be extended to the Yoruba Community; the Igbo and the Niger-Delta communities.

The details of loans would be worked out shortly, the Governor had emphasized.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the League of Imams, Akwa Ibom State, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq had thanked the Governor for the love and cordial relationship that has existed with the Muslim community in the State.

“We are a people from diverse origins across Nigeria, all living here peacefully and securely in Akwa Ibom State under your leadership.

“We know some states are struggling with cases of insecurity. But here, we have enjoyed peace and Your Excellency, in continuing with the maintenance of peace had proactively come up with such vision as represented by the Community Watch and the setting up of the Ministry of Internal Security and Waterways, headed by a retired general of the Nigerian Army, Gen. Koko Essien rtd..

“We are proud of your visionary approach to governance, especially as it concerns the rural dwellers and we pray Allah should grant you more wisdom to carry on.

“Our gathering here today with you is not the first, second or third. You have graciously been breaking fast with us as a private citizen, a community leader and a statesman, year in, year out. It is therefore not surprising that you extended same invitation for us to join you in Government House for this year’s Iftar.”

The Imam prayed for the Governor and his family, the State, the Exco and the people of the State.

The Governor, used the opportunity to appoint Mr. Emmanuel Ogbole as tte Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Non-Indigenes’ Affairs and Alhaji Ibrahim Iliya as the Special Assistant, Arewa Community.

The Governor also announced that he will soon appoint Special Assistants for the Yourba, Igbo and Niger Delta communities.

The event was attended by the Deputy Governor, Distinguished Senator Akon Eyakenyi, the SSG, the Speaker, State House of Assrmbky Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, Prince Enobong Uwah, Chief Assam Assam, SAN,the Director General of the Campaign Organization and of Government Business, Barrister Emmanuel Enoidem SAN, the Chairman of the Maintain Peace Movement ( MPM), Engr. Uwem Okoko of Hensek integrated Services, Ekder Aniekan Akpan, the Chairman of the PDP in AKwa Ibom State, the Political Adviser to the Governor, Prince ( Dr.) Godwin Ntukude, the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, CP Ayilara Waheed Adedamola, the head of NDLEA, Akwa Ibom State Command, several Commissioners led by the Dean of Commissioners, Sir Monday Ebong Uko among others.

Ekerete Udoh
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
April 9, 2024

31/03/2024

BEING THE TEXT OF THE EASTER BROADCAST BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PASTOR UMO ENO, GOVERNOR, AKWA IBOM STATE, MARCH 31ST, 2024
“HE AROSE THAT WE MAY ARISE”

1.Fellow Akwaibomites

2.My wife, Her Excellency, Pastor (Mrs.) Patience Umo Eno, and I join you in celebrating the joy that Easter represents.

3.Easter is an important event in Christendom. It signifies the trial of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, the pain and suffering he experienced leading to His crucifixion, and His ultimate victory over death through resurrection, which has brought salvation and redemption to mankind.

4.It is also the ultimate display of sacrifice and of love as aptly captured in Ephesians 5:2 (KJV) “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us as offering and a sacrifice to God.”

5.This is my first Easter broadcast to you my dear AkwaIbomites, since you massively elected me on March 18, 2023, to be your Governor. My gratitude to you for the love and faith you displayed on that day will forever, be deeply appreciated and ingrained in my heart. I will do all I can, to live up to the faith and trust you had reposed in me on that day.

6.We are living in a moment and time that mirrors what Christ went through over two thousand years ago, a period of trial and tribulation, of economic pains and anxieties but conditioned by hope that, just as Christ overcame death, we, too, will overcome this period and victory will be ours eventually.

7.We remain dedicated to turning the challenges and anxieties of today into opportunities for growth and expansion tomorrow. That, explains the intentional manner we have gone about tackling the harsh economic realities we are currently facing.

8.When nations or subnationals are confronted with dire economic circumstances, leaders devise means of addressing the needs of the people - short, medium and long term. That is precisely what we have done by showing compassion, love and attention to the most vulnerable and the neediest amongst us.

9.The headwinds of harsh economic atmosphere arising from the removal of fuel subsidy has affected us all, especially those on the lower rungs of the economic ladder. Thankfully, it was as if we knew this moment would come, as the key focal point of our governance blueprint, the ARISE Agenda, places huge premium on agricultural revolution, aimed at ensuring food security for our people.

10.This is not my score-card speech, I will reserve that for my First Anniversary Speech coming up on May 29. But it bears repeating that, in ten months, we have focused our attention on our most vulnerable population.

11.Since we came in, we have paid serious attention to social issues or providing palliatives to the most vulnerable.To date, we have released close to 15 billion for the payment of gratuities to our retired workers- primary school teachers, local government and civil service retirees. These compassionate interventions have made our elderly take care of their needs, especially medical. We will continue to release funds for this programme regularly.

12.Last week, we successfully launched our Arise food security programme, where vouchers were given to the vulnerable people to go and get free staple food items: Garri, rice and beans at designated redemption centres in designated markets across the 31 Local Government Areas. We had earlier flagged-off the programme at the state level on Tuesday 26th March, 2024. The remaining Local Government areas will follow suit on Tuesday 2nd April, 2024. This programme is currently ongoing. At the event, I also, had announced a 1.5 billion Naira interest- free loans (500 million Naira each to the three senatorial districts) to our traders. I was touched by the pain our market women and other traders go through to borrow money at high and unserviceable interest rates. This scheme, to be managed by Ibom Fadama and Micro finance Bank, is yet another intervention by us, because we care about our traders.

13.Let me thank our dear people for the love you have shown us for undertaking these compassionate and people-centric interventions. You elected us to serve you and as long as I remain your Governor, I will strive and endeavor to sacrifice my time and the resources God has blessed us with, to serve you, Remember, I came from your stock, so I feel your pain and anxieties.

14.We have undertaken free medical outreach programmes in Uyo, Oron and Ikot Ekpene, with Eket scheduled next. Over five thousand surgeries and various other critical medical interventions and procedures were performed free. Let me again thank you for the outpouring of love you have shown for this program. Permit me to also thank Hensek Integrated Services for partnering with us, as part of its corporate social responsibility. We hope other corporate organizations will follow the lead of Hensek. We will continue to undertake this exercise because as the saying goes, health is wealth.

15.The Arise Initiative for the Elderly where we give 50 thousand Naira monthly assistance to 600 elderly drawn from all the wards in the state has commenced. The first set of recipients were paid a little over three weeks ago.

16.The construction of the Arise Compassionate Homes for the most vulnerable has started in several local government areas of the state. My heart broke, when pictures of shanties and dilapidated structures that passed for the homes of some of most our vulnerable were shown to me. I thereafter, took the immediate action to help some of the neediest spread across all the wards in the state, build decent homes for them. By the end of our first term, in 2027, we hope to build homes for the poorest in each of the wards in the state.

17.We will continue to pay bursary to our students at tertiary institutions alongside the 100 million Naira grant to students living with disabilities. The first tranche of 250 thousand and 350 thousand Naira respectively, have already been paid to undergraduate and post graduate students respectively.

18.So my fellow Akwaibomites, as we celebrate Easter, let us remain hopeful that the future looks great, our collective dreams for prosperity across all layers of the society is realizable.

19.I am dedicated to serving you well, bringing governance closer to you, applying the resources we have been blessed with, to affect you positively and give our youths a reason to remain hopeful.

20.This is a season of trial and victory. Our nation and our state may be going through a period of trial and tribulation, but just as Christ overcame death with victory at His resurrection, we too, will overcome our economic challenges with growth and abundance. I ask for your continuous support, prayers, unity and love amongst our people.

21. He arose, that we may ARISE

22.Happy Easter to us all! God bless Akwa Ibom State, God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

26/03/2024

GOV ENO DOLES OUT N1.5BN INTEREST-FREE TRADERS’ LOAN
…launches free food voucher programme

Akwa Ibom State Governor Pastor Umo Eno, today, launched the free food voucher programme for the vulnerable and the neediest at the popular Itam market, located in Itu Local Government Area.

Flanked by the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, the two Senators representing Akwa Ibom North East and South respectively, Senator Aniekan Bassey and Senator Ekong Sampson respectively, the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah and other top government officials, Governor Eno, was messianic as he spoke of his government’s bottom -up approach, where the poor and the vulnerable would be assisted to Arise and shine.

The free food voucher for the vulnerable, is a key element of the Bulk Agency Bill that was signed to law a week ago, and the Board, equally inaugurated by the Governor, last week.

The key responsibility of the Agency, is to provide free staple food items : Garri, rice and beans to the most vulnerable through the Social Register.

At the launch of this programme today, the Governor was hailed as a leader with compassion, and the joy and happiness on the part of the recipients was palpable.

They prayed for the Governor and promised to stand by him, support him and continue to pray for the success of his administration.

“This is an incredible people - oriented program. This Governor is truly a Pastor. Look at the Christ-like humility he has shown here.

“He is standing right there, supervising the distribution of the food items; he greeted and touched the recipients.

“This is rare to see in people occupying such an exalted office,” Honourable Anietie Eka, a political chieftain from Uyo local government area, had observed.

Governor Uno Eno’s humanitarian acts are what has defined him. In his inaugural address on May29. 2023, he had clearly signaled the direction of his government: The need to bring governance closer to the people and have them be invested and take ownership in governance. “To those who may not be able to put food on your table, I will be your advocate and champion.”

Today, at Itam market, he took bold steps to do exactly, stating that, “ When leaders are faced with daunting social problems, they usually think outside the box and that’s what motivated me to set up the Bulk Purchase Agency and the free food voucher drive initiative.

“We had reviewed all of the options, and this for us, remains the best. We are partnering with the market leaders and I want to thank them for the cooperation we have so far received from them.

“Let me repeat here that this is purely an interventionist act; the solution to our food security remains the need for us to go back to the farm. Yesterday, I paid an unannounced visit to a farm run by one of your young men and I was so impressed with what the young man is doing and we pledge to support him. I will continue to pay visits to farms run by both people in government and others.

The highlight of the day’s event, was the announcement by the Governor of a 1.5 billion interest free -loans to Akwa Ibom traders to be managed by the Ibom Fadama Micro Finance Bank.

“ I have heard of how some of you go to some places to get loans with very high interest rates and that has, made the cost of food to go up, and before you finish paying the loans, you cannot meet up with your market or trading obligations anymore.

“I have come to tell you not to take such loans anymore. Consequently, we are releasing five hundred million Naira interest -free loans to each of the three senatorial districts (1.5 billion Naira in total) to help your business.

The Governor also promised to construct a car park, provide solar panel light, modern toilet facilities, all of which were the prayers of the leadership of the Itam Market.

The Governor directed the Transition Chairmen of the remaining 29 councils ( Itu and UyoLocal Government Councils, having been covered by today’s launch ) to ensure they launch the free voucher food program by next Tuesday.

Ekerete Udoh
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
March 26, 2024

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