Confusion and low Sensitisation Trails Activities of Bulk Purchasing Agency in Food Distribution Programme of Gov Eno
By Emmanuel Uffot
Barely a month after the pilot scheme of food distribution programme of Governor Umo Eno’s administration under the Bulk Purchase Agency was launched in the state, a lot of residents of the state are still at a loss over where the food are and who are the registered vendors.
In some major designated markets where the vendors were supposed to operate and sale the essential food items to people at discount rate, many people are not aware of the existence of such outlet.
Again the essence of the programme according to government was to help to cushion the high cost of foodstuff, especially rice, beans and garri that were to sold at packaged 5kg, but it has brought little or no effect if the continuos high cost of the items especially garri are anything to go by.
For instance, as at the time of the launch of the Bulk food Purchase Agency, Garri was sold for 8 and 9 cups for ₦1000, now it is sold for between 5 and 6 cups for N1000.
Similarly, government was to give the food items free to those termed as the vulnerable in the society on presentation of vouchers that were to be collected from the over 300 personal assistants to the Governor from each ward, but not only has confusion and lack of awareness trailed who and who are those that have benefited from this gesture, the greatest controversy, we found out lies on who qualifies for the names in the social register that was said to have been compiled before now.
Just like in the Covid-19 era whereby people did not see the palliatives government was laying claim to giving out, sceptics are already insinuating that the products will be
diverted to persons other than those they were genuinely meant for.
A case in point being the endSars protest that exposed the hoarding of rice meant for Nigerians at warehouses.
There also insinuations going round that the rice been given were of substandard quality, contrary to government position that they are of good quality.
However, the confusion and controversies facing this supposed laudable food intervention initiative of Governor Eno has not recapped the notice of the Chairman of the Bulk Purchase Agency Honourable Dan Akpan.
The former Purchasing Manager of Mobil Producing Unlimited, former Local Government Council Chairman and former House of Representatives Member for Etinan, Nsit Ubium and Nsit Ibom Federal Constituency as he has rose to defend the programme that the best is been done.
Honourable Akpan has given assurance that the agency will efficiently Track Food Distribution.
The Chairman of the Bulk Purchasing Agency bared his mind on this vexed issue recently at an Interministerial briefing organized by the Ministry of Information, to evaluate the ARISE Scorecard and Governor Umo Eno’s intervention strategy for food sufficiency and security over the past eleven months.
He tasked the people to have faith in the success of the Initiative.
The Scheme aims to lower food costs, ensure food sufficiency, availability, security, enhance socioeconomic conditions at the grassroots level, and reduce poverty by providing essential food items at subsidized rates.
Akpan, who dismissed claims that the rice and other food items distributed during the scheme’s launch were sandy and substandard, stressed that they were of good quality and that any vendor supplying substandard food items will be blacklisted from the scheme.
According to him, the Scheme would be sustained for a while upon commencement, to help vulnerable members of the public find their feet physiologically.
To ensure effective distribution, he explained that three monitoring teams have been established by the Agency across the three Senatorial Districts.
Also, the commissioner of Agriculture, Dr Offiong Offor disclosed that Pastor Umo Eno’s administration is planning to spur the interest of young people in agriculture by providing them financial access and land for start-ups.
According to her, the Governor is leaving no stone unturned in his bid to make agriculture the mainstay of the economy and thus, eradicate poverty and hunger from the land, in line with Goals 1 and 2 of the United Nations proposition on Sustainable Development.
She also mentioned that lands provided by Local Government Chairpersons for farming will be cultivated by assisted farmers, to ensure food availability and affordability.
It could be recalled that during the launch of the Bulk Purchase scheme, Governor Eno had emphasised that the programme is a temporary interventionist initiative and urged the people to go back to farm as a permanent measure to guarantee food sufficiency.
But some people, notwithstanding the good initiatives of the governor, they are waiting to see how the agency under Hon Akpan will go about the scheme to achieve the set goal.
