The Akwa Ibom State government at the weekend launched a mass rice distribution programme targeting the 2,272 villages.
Governor Eno had after meeting with some commissioners including those of agriculture, local government and chieftaincy affairs, the 31 interim council chairmen and other stakeholders, directed the exercise to begin from Friday.
At the commencement of the distribution process, the commissioner for agriculture, Dr. Offiong Offor, disclosed that the governor had doubled the initial 24,000 bags of rice received from the federal government to 48,000 bags for more people to benefit.
Dr. Offor assured that the process would be transparent, and urged the local government chairmen to engage village heads, councils and stakeholders to ensure that it reaches everyone without hindrance.
She said beneficiaries include not only villagers but also persons living with disabilities and special groups, regardless of their status.
