Akwa Ibom state governor pastor Umo has approved N1.5b revolving interest-free loan to market traders and commenced distribution of free foodstuff to vulnerable persons in the state.
Eno while addressing the traders at Itam Market on Tuesday explained that N500m is earmarked for traders in each of the three senatorial districts of the state.
Tagged ” Arise Free Food” the governor disclosed that the food security programme is focused on the vulnerable, needy and the poor in the society as a means of government to intervene in the present economic situation in the nation.
Eno emphasized his administration’s commitment to the well-being of the downtrodden and promised to continue to develop policies geared at lifting the poor from a state of despair.
He also announced the appointment of three Senior Special Assistants to the Governor on Traders Matters to cover the three senatorial districts of the State, and ten special assistants on traders matters to cover the ten federal constituencies of the State.
He said the traders’ credit facilities, will be made available to the traders through the State-owned, Ibom Fadama Micro Finance Bank and urged the traders to open accounts in the bank.
” I hear that it is because market people get loans from places with high interest, and they are unable to pay back the loan and interest, which makes the prices of things high in the market.
“We are releasing to each senatorial district market an interest-free loan of five hundred million Naira per senatorial district.
“Every money will be paid into the Ibom FADAMA Micro Finance Bank. So if you do not have an account with the bank, each business person should open an account with them.
“This is for everyone. There’s no such thing as a portfolio marketer. The people must have their stalls in the market working with the SAs and Market Union.”
Governor Eno maintained that the process will ensure effective monitoring and implementation of the various schemes instituted by his administration for traders in the State.
He said the Bulk Purchase Agency, the anchor vehicle of the scheme, which was recently inaugurated in the State, was meant to work towards crashing and stabilizing the price of food in the State.
He therefore directed his aides to ensure transparency and accountability in the process.
Pastor Eno announced plans to set up an Agriculture Committee to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the programme across the State.
“Let no one make any mistake that these vouchers can be replicated. You will not be able to fake this one because these vouchers are printed by the Nigeria Printing and Minting Company and if we catch you, it is an offence.
“So when they give you the voucher then they will give you the food. Garri will be 5kg, rice 5kg, and beans 5kg.
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“There is no guarantee that one person will have more than one voucher. So whatever voucher you have, take it to the market and a scale will be used by the agent at the redemption center to measure the food to you.
“For those who want to be part of the scheme, it is a business and all measurements must be done with scales and not cups. If you do not have a scale, you are not qualified.”
He warned his aides drawn from all the 368 wards to ensure that only people who are in the social registers are given the food vouchers.
He also announced that each personal aide has been given a mobile computer tablet to ensure the social registers are meticulously used to execute the programme.
The Governor however insisted that “what is important is that we must have a way of sustaining this programme; all of us will go back to the farm.”
He recounted how he stopped over at a farm owned by a private individual in Ibesikpo Asutan local government area, adding that he was impressed and had to support him.
He said the Bulk Purchase Agency would be on hand to offtake crops harvested by farmers in the State at favourable costs to all farmers and encouraged everyone to take advantage of this offer to embrace farming.
On the request from the Itam market traders, the Governor approved the immediate execution of internal roads, drainages, borehole water modern toilet facilities and solar street lights at the market, and warned that once in place, the Government would no longer condone street trading by traders.
Earlier, the Chairman of Bulk Purchase Agency, Dr Dan Akpan, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Offiong Offor, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Traders Matters, Mr Idorenyin Raphael and representative of traders, Godwin Ebong- President of Itam Traders Union and Madam Magdalene Udom, State Woman Leader of the trader‘s union, appreciated the Governor for embarking on the scheme and pledged their resolve to ensure they worked hard for the success of the food intervention programme.
The high points of the ceremony, were the presentation of food vouchers to some vulnerable persons from Itu local government area, while other local government areas in the State are expected to take their turns next week.
