Uyo, Nigeria – The Akwa Ibom State Government has announced that over 600,000 households have so far benefitted from the Arise Free Food Distribution initiative, a flagship welfare program launched by the administration of Governor Umo Eno.
The disclosure was made by the Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, during a press briefing on the activities and achievements of the state government in the month of September. Umanah said the food support program, launched under the Arise Agenda, has already surpassed national benchmarks in less than two years of implementation.
He noted that while the interventionist effort has brought relief to thousands of families, it should not replace sustainable means of livelihood. He therefore encouraged residents to embrace agriculture and return to farming, describing it as a more viable long-term solution to food security.
“His Excellency, Governor Umo Eno, remains committed to fulfilling all his campaign promises as enshrined in the Arise Agenda. Tremendous progress has been made across key sectors including healthcare, education, aviation, sports, rural development, and human capacity building,” Umanah said.
He also called for increased support from citizens to enable the administration to continue delivering on its mandate to improve the welfare and standard of living of the people.
Meanwhile, in a related development, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem John, has revealed that more than 200 retired health workers have applied for contract appointments in various health facilities across the state. This follows a directive issued by Governor Eno during the last State Executive Council meeting, aimed at addressing the shortage of healthcare personnel.
Dr. John described the move as part of the reforms under the state-declared healthcare emergency, emphasizing that it represents a bold and proactive step to improve healthcare delivery.
He, however, cautioned that all applicants must be prepared to serve at their designated duty posts without excuses, as the state intensifies efforts to ensure quality and accessible health services for its citizens.