A’Ibom plans bulk purchase agency to address rising food prices
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has said that his administration has concluded plans to establish a Bulk Purchase Agency to regulate prices of foodstuff and bring them within the reach of its citizenry.
The governor announced this on Friday during the Nigerian Unity Conference 2024 tagged: “That We May be One”, organised by the 10th Episcopal District, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Uyo, the state capital.
He said a bill to establish the agency will soon be sent to the House of Assembly for legal backing to enable the agency to intervene and stem skyrocketing food prices in the state.
He added that the agency to be established will partner with market associations to check food prices and encourage local producers to boost their productivity.
“By the grace of God, I am sending a bill to the House of Assembly to establish the 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 to control the price. We will also encourage our local producers so that our people can afford to buy food at controlled prices,” he stated.
The governor, who also announced the flagging-off of the construction of strategic roads across the three senatorial districts in the next two weeks, thanked the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church for galvanising the young people and for their investment in the educational and health sectors.
Earlier, the Bishop and Prelate of the 10th Episcopal District, Ricky Helton, thanked the governor for honouring the church by attending the event.
Ricky assured the governor of continuous support.
