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The Chairman, Enugu East Local Government Area, Engr. Beloved-Dan Anike, has flagged off the distribution of 10,000 bags of rice to households across the council area as part of his administration’s Christmas welfare package and poverty reduction drive.
The chairman said the council had completed over 10 kilometres of asphalted roads, awarded scholarships to over 10,000 beneficiaries, and trained youths in different digital skills, while praising Governor Peter Mbah for his administration’s non-interference with local government funds, which made the execution of the projects possible.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony, yesterday, Anike said the initiative was inspired by the leadership philosophy of the governor, whom he described as intentional and people-oriented in governance, with a strong focus on reducing poverty in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He said the local government’s welfare interventions were designed to complement the state government’s efforts at improving the living standards of the people at the grassroots.
“Our motivation is drawn from the leadership style of His Excellency, Governor Peter Mbah, who has consistently placed the welfare of the common people first. He is deliberately reducing poverty in Enugu State, and we, at the local level, are following the same principle,” the chairman said.
He recalled some of the social intervention programmes already implemented by his administration, noting that the rice distribution was a continuation of deliberate pro-poor policies.
“You are aware of our 5,000 universal health coverage scheme. You are also aware of our distribution of wrappers to 10,000 women. Today, we are flagging off the distribution of 10,000 bags of rice to households across Enugu East Local Government Area,” he stated.
Anike explained that the beneficiaries were identified through women’s cooperative societies within the council, adding that over 400 cooperative groups are currently undergoing various capacity-building and empowerment training facilitated by the local government.
“This programme was made easy by our structured engagement with women cooperatives across the council. These groups, numbering about 400, are undergoing training programmes, and through them we were able to identify households that are already benefiting from our poverty reduction initiatives,” he said.
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The council chairman also commended Governor Mbah for strengthening local government administration through deliberate policies and infrastructural investments at the grassroots.
“Governor Peter Mbah has been intentional about empowering local governments. He allows 100 percent of our statutory allocations to reach us, and this has enabled councils to execute meaningful projects. Projects such as Smart Green Schools, Type-2 Primary Health Centres, and rural road construction are visible testimonies. We are simply following in his footsteps in delivering good governance to our people.”
Also speaking at the event, the Caretaker Committee Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State, Dr. Ben Nwoye, described the development strides in the state as consistent with the party’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which he said prioritises aggressive grassroots development and poverty reduction.
“What we are seeing here aligns with the APC’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which is focused on taking development to the grassroots and lifting people out of poverty. I urge the people to continue to support the APC and work towards the return of the party to government at all levels in the forthcoming elections.”
He further charged residents to ensure that their voter cards are intact and to actively participate in the electoral process.
In separate reactions, beneficiaries of the rice distribution expressed joy and appreciation, describing the intervention as timely and impactful, especially amid prevailing economic challenges.
One of the beneficiaries, a widow, Mrs. Grace Ogbu, said the gesture would go a long way in easing the burden on households during the festive season. “This support means a lot to us. It shows that the local government truly cares about the people,” she said.
Another beneficiary, Mrs. Ngozi Eze, pledged continued support for the council administration and the APC. “With what we are seeing, we are ready to give more support to this government, so that these programmes can continue,” she said.
