Determined to ensure the palliative measures to cushion the negative multiplayer effects of the fuel subsidy removal on the people get farther down the grassroots, Governor Umo Eno, of Akwa Ibom state has augmented the package from the federal government with N1 billion, it was learnt yesterday.
The president Bola Tinubu-led federal government had earlier doled out N5 billion each to states, with five truckload of grains, and Gov Eno said the state has received only N2 billion so far, explaining that the additional N1 billion from the state government would go a long way towards mitigating the impacts of the economic reforms on the people, especially the vulnerable poor.
Coming barely 48 – hours after restive youths drawn across the 31 local government areas of the state under the aegis of the Ibom Youths Council (IYC), marched in protest to Government House, demanding that five per cent of the states’ 13 per cent oil derivation fund be shared to the youths, Governor Eno cautioned against being used by unscrupulous persons to foment unrest in the state.
He assured that with the augmentation of the palliative with N1 billion, couple with the 3,000 bags of rice and N 2 billion so far received from the federal government, the over 2, 270 villages in the state should be hopeful to get at least 50 bags of rice each.
Explaining the modus operandi of sharing the materials, Eno said: “I am sure each village will get between at least 50 bags. We will give to the Hausa community, Yoruba community, Igbo community, Niger Delta community, and all of the security services, and all other people that may not be able to get to villages. They are not village people, but they are also part of us in Akwa Ibom.
“We want to do one project per local government so as to help ensure that we provide jobs for our young people.
These are the quick fix measures we are doing. Don’t forget this is a short, medium and long term packages.”
He warned that the state government has gathered intelligence on some person’s trying to disrupt the peace in the state by inciting the youths to cause a breach of law and the peace in the state, and cautioned the youths to be wary of such people.