In response to widespread concerns regarding the misdirection of fuel subsidy removal relief measures, the COMPPART Foundation for Justice and Peace-building, a human rights organization, has issued a plea to the Akwa Ibom State government and the Palliatives Distribution Committee.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
They have called for the immediate establishment of an efficient feedback mechanism to oversee the distribution of these relief measures throughout all 31 local government areas of the state….CONTINUE RERADING
On September 6, Governor Umo Eno initiated the distribution of these relief measures in his Ikot Ekpene Udo village. The initiative aimed to provide 40 bags of rice to each of the 2,272 villages for further distribution by village councils to individuals primarily from impoverished households.
During the distribution commencement, the governor emphasized that the relief items were intended for the most economically vulnerable, cautioning that individuals involved in diverting these items should anticipate severe consequences. He invoked a plea to God, hoping that those responsible for diversion would themselves experience a similar plight.
Regrettably, LEADERSHIP has learned that these relief items have been misappropriated by village leaders and members of the local palliative distribution teams in numerous local government areas, including Etinan, Etim Ekpo, Nsit Atai, and others.
In light of these reports, a resident of Ikot Nseyen community in Etinan LGA, speaking anonymously, disclosed that only 30 bags of rice were distributed to the villagers. He further alleged that the village head and council failed to account for the disappearance of 10 bags.
Speaking during an interview in Uyo, the state capital, within a discussion titled “Policing Palliative Distribution and Securing the Beneficiaries,” the executive director of COMPPART Foundation, Saviour Akpan, invoked previous incidents such as the COVID-19 relief efforts and other instances where traditional leaders were accused of misappropriating resources meant for their impoverished constituents. He stressed the critical need for an effective feedback mechanism in order to prevent such occurrences.
