All is now set for the commencement of another round of free food distribution under the Governor Umo Eno’s Arise Food Security Programme.
This second phase of the programme which commences next week, follows an earlier exercise, where 324,000 households benefited from the free food vouchers which were exchanged for food such as rice, beans and garri.
The Honourary Special Adviser to the Governor, on Media and Publicty, Hon Aniekan Umanah, disclosed this on Friday during a live radio interactive programme.
He explained that the next phase will see food being trucked in the brand new food delivery trucks to all the 31 Local Government headquarters where beneficiaries will directly redeem their vouchers.
The former lawmaker assured that adequate arrangements have been made for a hitch free food redemption process.
On the recent Thank You Rally for Youths held by the Governor, Umanah said the programme was unprecedented in the State and listed various youth support programmes recently announced by the government to include the training and empowerment of 1200 beneficiaries through IBOM-LED, Educational and Business Support Grants to undergraduates and SME’s for physically challenged persons, N310 million cash support to youths structures in the 31 Local Government Areas at N10 million per LGA, approval of fresh appointment of 3000 youths into Ibom Community Watch Scheme, approval for recruitment and training of 200 youths with monthly transport allowance of N20,000 (Twenty Thousand) each, increase of Student’s Bursary from N10,000 (Ten Thousand) naira to N20,000 (Twenty Thousand) naira, and an increase from N10,000 to N30,000 generally for professional students and Post -graduate Students, floating of a monthly grant of N50,000 each for 5000 youths across the State, launching of an employment portal for youths to aggregate data and prepare for youth employment in State Civil service and other organizations, among others.
Speaking on the forthcoming Local Government election, the former House of Representatives Member asserted that the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has what he describes as “the bragging rights” to win all the elective positions in the October 5 Local Government Election.
The Media Chieftain was emphatic in his declaration that the PDP will have a landslide victory in the forthcoming election, because the PDP Government in the State under Governor Umo Eno has performed credibly well leaving the candidate solid records of achievements to parade T campaigns. “The people of the State know they have to vote the PDP because the current administration has performed to the satisfaction of the people. I predict victory for all Chairmanship and Councilorship flag bearers of the PDP” he said .
Umanah further noted that the achievements of Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda in the State has touched every electorate.
“Is it roads across all local government areas, model Schools and Health centers, agricultural revolution and food security programmes, payment of backlog of gratuities and other emoluments, among others.
He listed other benefits to include several financial assistance for the aged, tourism development through the construction of ARISE Park, human capacity development, support for micro, medium and small enterprise development, and lots more.
He maintained that Akwa Ibom people at the grassroots would have reasons to key behind the PDP led government, as it is a party with human face, and has the wellbeing of the people at heart, and has been working assiduously to make life bearable for the people.
“The Governor asked them to go and talk to the people based on issues. So, we are running an issue-based campaign. The candidates would be banking on the tenets of the ARISE agenda, and you would see that we have what to tell the people.”
“It’s important our people understand that politics is about what you are bringing to the people. You have a bragging right, brag about those things.
Showcase all of that to the people. Those are the things the Chairmanship candidates can showcase”, he stated.
