By Obiabin Onukwugha
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno has stated that the state will enact a law to control the hike in food prices.
This is coming as the governor also announced the establishment of a Bulk Purchase Agency to checkmate snd regulate food prices in order to make then affordable for people of the state.
He said a bill to establish the Bulk Purchase Agency will be sent to the House of Assembly to give the Board a legal status and enable it intervene and control food prices in the state.
Governor Umo Eno spoke at the Nigerian Unity Conference 2024 tagged: “That We May be One,” organised by the 10th Episcopal District, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church at Ibom Hall, Uyo, on Sunday.
The Governor also said the state government will partner with the market associations in order to successfully implement the decision and as well encourage local producers so as to boost productivity.
“By the grace of God, I am sending a bill to the House of Assembly to establish Akwa Ibom Bulk Purchase Agency. We feel that we need to intervene because of the prices of some staple food, and we will do that intervention through the agency that will bulk purchase our staple food and work with some market people.
“The agency will help bring in the food produce to enable us control the price. We will also encourage our local producers. So our people can afford to buy food at controlled prices,” he stated.
Eno further announced the flagging-off of the construction of strategic roads across the three Senatorial Districts of the state.
He used the medium to thank the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church for their contributions to the young people and for their investment in the educational and health sectors.
“I thank the church for their support to Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria. They have invested heavily in our educational and health system. They have helped galvanize our young people. I am proud of them and the work they have been doing. I thank you for hosting this conference in Akwa Ibom State. It could have been anywhere and we celebrate you.
“We are committed to bettering our educational system and working on improving our primary health care system. From the end of this month, we will begin to commission some primary health care facilities.
“In the next few weeks, we will be rolling out a full security architecture for our state. We will introduce new patrol vehicles to keep our people safe day and night,” he said.