Poor People Don’t Eat Eggs, We Won’t Subsidise It – Akwa Ibom Governor

Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno has turned down a request to add “eggs” to the list of food products that the state government will provide at a discounted price to those who are in need.

During an expanded State Executive Council meeting on Thursday, the governor rejected the appeal and signed the measure creating the Bulk Purchase Agency into law.

Following President Bola Tinubu’s removal of the fuel subsidy, food prices have soared, causing significant hardship for Nigerians.

A few weeks ago, Governor Eno sent a bill to the state assembly proposing the creation of a Bulk Purchase Agency. This agency would purchase food goods in large quantities and resell them to the underprivileged at a discounted price, in reaction to the skyrocketing costs of commodities.

The three basic food items on the agency’s menu, as per the legislation, are rice, beans, and garri. The products will be offered to disadvantaged individuals who are already registered in the state social register for ten kg apiece, once a month.

During the Facebook live-streamed event, a participant questioned the methods used to choose the three food items, claiming that only beans were included on the list and that garri and rice were carbs.

He recommended adding eggs, another source of protein, especially for the undernourished kids in the community, but the governor turned down his petition.

“Poor people don’t eat eggs. Let’s look at staple foods,” the governor responded, while emphasising that the programme, being an intervention, will not last forever.

“We all know that there is real hunger in the land. Our people need food, so as a government, we proposed that we intervene in the high cost of food in our state.

“The only way we can do that is to set up an agency that will do a direct intervention in the market and get food to our people at a reduced price – that is what the agency seeks to address,” he said. [CONTINUE READING HERE]