Gov Eno Kick Starts A 1.5bn Interest-Free Loan Scheme For Traders In Akwa Ibom State

Governor Umo Eno is commended by BlossomNigeria for taking the initiative to assist traders in the State. All traders in Akwa Ibom State now have access to an interest-free credit program worth 1.5 billion naira, as part of efforts to reduce the nation’s growing commodity costs. The plan sets up 500 million naira for traders in each of the State’s three senatorial districts.

Governor Umo Eno made the announcements while flagging off a food security programme for the vulnerable, neediest and the poor at the Itam Market, Itam, in Itu local government area of Akwa Ibom state.

He also announced that each personal aide has been given a mobile computer tablet to ensure the social registers are meticulously used to execute the programme.

The Governor however insisted that “What is important is that we must have a way of sustaining this programme; all of us will go back to the farm.”

The Governor said the Bulk Purchase Agency will be on hand to offtake crops harvested by farmers in the State, at favourable costs to all farmers and encouraged everyone to take advantage of this offer to embrace farming.

In response, the Chairman of Bulk Purchase Agency, Dr Dan Akpan, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Offiong Offor, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Traders Matters, Mr Idorenyin Raphael and representative of traders, Godwin Ebong- President of Itam Traders Union and Madam Magdalene Udom, State Woman Leader of the trader‘s union, appreciated the Governor for embarking on the scheme and pledged their resolve to ensure they worked hard for the success of the food intervention programme.

It is an initiative worth commending as more actions are expected from the Akwa Ibom state Government to fully maintain it. In otherwords, it should not be abandoned, and more needs to be put in place to ensure that it is kept in a robust manner, attracting more funding in continuity.