We only received 2 billion loan, not 30 billion- Governor Umo

In response to recent allegations made by the Senate President regarding the disbursement of funds for palliative measures amid economic hardship, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has denied the claim that state governments received 30bn naira each.

Speaking to journalists, Governor Umo Eno addressed the claims, emphasizing the importance of factual information over sensationalism. He stated, “You have to understand how civil societies in other climes work; they try to balance information.” The governor urged for patience, suggesting that concerns should be raised after the publication of official accounts rather than inciting false alarms.

Regarding the allocation of funds, Governor Umo Eno clarified, “The money that the federal government gave to me or to the states, and indeed to all states, was 2 billion naira, even though the federal government said it was 5bn.” 

He further explained that the state had yet to receive the full amount, with a balance of 3 billion naira still pending. Additionally, he highlighted that the 2 billion naira received was labelled as a loan, not a grant for palliative measures.

Governor Umo Eno also shed light on the state’s efforts to address the economic challenges, including the establishment of a bulk purchase agency aimed at stabilizing food prices. “We want to take away middlemen so that [goods] can get to the real people,” he stated, emphasizing the government’s commitment to ensuring that benefits reach the intended recipients.

Refuting the notion that states had received 30 billion naira each for palliative measures, the governor expressed shock at such claims, labelling it as a prophecy,

“As I stand here today, we have not received more than 2 billion from the federal government on palliative, and we are made to understand that it was a loan,” he clarified.

‘’I think it is a prophesy and I pray, the prophecy will come to pass, and you know we are in the state, and people are there in Abuja maybe there is a plan like that, so I join in praying that it should come, it will help us a lot.’’

‘’We have gotten a bill to the House of Assembly to be able to pass that we start the bulk purchase agency, the state government want to do a bulk purchase of food and send it to the market so we can be able to stem the price of food, we are not making a price control but will be able to say if you flood the market this the price the challenge for us is that, we want to take away middlemen so that this can get to the real people…’’ he noted.

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