Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno’s compassionate intervention programme has reached the 25th Local Government Area, with residents of Abak Local Government Area turning out in large numbers yesterday to receive free food items under the ongoing ARISE Free Food Distribution Programme.

The exercise, which is part of the fourth phase of the state-wide intervention, is implemented through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and aimed at supporting vulnerable households across the state; it saw 7,000 bags of food allocated to vulnerable households in Abak, reaffirming Governor Eno’s administration’s commitment to extending its humanitarian interventions to communities across the state.

The distribution was carried out on behalf of the Governor by the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Princess Emem Ibanga, who commended the people and leadership of Abak for their continued support and peaceful disposition.

Ibanga, who recalled that the government had previously brought the intervention to Abak, said the return of the programme demonstrated that no LGA was being left behind in the administration’s welfare initiatives.

“Last year, we were here, and this year we have come again to distribute the fourth phase. Abak is not left out; Abak is carried along in everything we do.”

The commissioner further said the administration remained committed to involving the people in decisions that affect their welfare, stressing that the Governor will continue to appreciate communities that have consistently supported its programmes and maintained peace.

She urged stakeholders in Abak to work together to ensure an orderly and transparent distribution process, particularly to guarantee that the food items reached the intended beneficiaries.

She explained that beneficiaries of the programme were identified through the state’s social register, stressing that the process was not politically motivated.

Princess Ibanga said the social register, which she described as an instrument developed with the support of the World Bank, was used to identify vulnerable households across the state.

She further explained that enumerators were deployed to communities to identify vulnerable residents who qualified for the intervention, adding that beneficiaries were issued vouchers for proper identification and verification at the distribution points.

According to her, only residents with the designated vouchers would be entitled to collect the food items, while those who were not captured as beneficiaries in the current phase should not be discouraged, as they would be considered in subsequent phases of the programme.

Also, the Chairman of Abak Local Government Area, Hon. Ime Effiong Charles, expressed appreciation to the Governor for what she described as “sincere love” and commitment to the people of the area.

The chairman said the administration had recorded several interventions in Abak, including road construction, schools, hospitals, compassionate homes and the latest food distribution programme.

She described the allocation of 7,000 bags of food to Abak as another demonstration of the Governor’s commitment to the welfare of the people, particularly vulnerable residents.

The chairman also declared the local government’s support for the Governor’s second-term ambition.

“Nothing can stop us from supporting the governor in his second-term ambition. He has 100 per cent support from Abak.”

The beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the Governor for remembering persons with disabilities and other vulnerable members of society, while urging the government to sustain programmes that improve their welfare.

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