By Mfonobong Ukpong
The Akwa Ibom State Government has announced the commencement of the fourth phase of its ARISE Free Food Distribution Programme, with 217,000 bags of staple food items set for distribution to vulnerable households across the 31 Local Government Areas beginning Monday, July 13, 2026.
The statewide humanitarian intervention, to be executed through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the Akwa Ibom State Bulk Purchase Agency, will be flagged off simultaneously in Oron and Urue Offong/Oruko Local Government Areas. The exercise is scheduled to run until August 17, 2026.
Under the programme, each Local Government Area will receive 7,000 bags of rice and beans, bringing the total allocation to 217,000 bags. Distribution will be carried out strictly through the approved Food Voucher System to verified beneficiaries captured in the State Social Register, in line with the government’s commitment to transparency, accountability and equitable service delivery.
According to a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Umanah, food trucks will move simultaneously to designated Local Government Areas in accordance with the approved distribution timetable to ensure seamless and timely delivery across the State.
The statement noted that the ARISE Free Food Distribution Programme remains one of the flagship humanitarian interventions of Governor Pastor Umo Eno’s administration, designed to cushion the effects of prevailing economic challenges on vulnerable households while advancing the welfare objectives of the ARISE Agenda.
It added that through the first three phases of the programme, more than 650,000 vulnerable households and individuals have benefited, reflecting the administration’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that no vulnerable citizen is left behind.
The Government has called on Local Government Chairmen, Ward Personal Assistants to the Governor, traditional rulers and other critical stakeholders to intensify grassroots mobilization and ensure that all eligible beneficiaries participate in the exercise on their scheduled dates.
It further emphasized that food vouchers would be issued only to duly verified beneficiaries listed in the State Social Register, while urging all stakeholders to uphold transparency, orderliness, peace and accountability throughout the distribution process.
The statement also reiterated that while the Free Food Distribution Programme provides immediate relief to vulnerable households, the State Government remains committed to achieving sustainable food security by encouraging citizens to embrace agriculture as a viable means of livelihood. It stressed that the intervention complements the State’s agricultural investments and empowerment programmes rather than replacing productive enterprise and self-reliance.
The State Government reaffirmed its resolve to sustain people-centred policies and programmes that improve the quality of life of citizens, strengthen food security and create greater economic opportunities under the ARISE Agenda.
