Investigate FG’s Feeding Programme In A-Ibom – Food Vendors Beg EFCC

Angry Food vendors in Akwa Ibom State are begging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to urgently intervene and investigate allegations of massive fraud in the Federal Government’s homegrown school feeding programme in the State.

The vendors said an inquest by the anti-corruption agency is needed to expose the rot and bring the culprits to book for their indiscretion in managing the programme.

Speaking with journalists in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital, some of the aggrieved vendors alleged that the state focal person and his collaborators have been involved in diverting funds approved for the pupils’ feeding across the state.

According to the Vendors’ allegations, the programme has been suspended in the state largely because fraudulent activities perpetrated by the focal person and his cohorts.

“The Federal Government’s programme is succeeding in other states, but in Akwa Ibom State, the situation is different because of the fraudulent activities of the state focal person, Dr Godwin Akpan and his collaborators.

“The home grown feeding programme has stopped for many years across schools in the state and we as vendors have not been cooking food for the school pupils again for a long time now because the money given is grossly inadequate for the pupils.

“So, we are calling on the EFCC and the state government to investigate the programme in the state”, a spokesperson of the Vendors, who did not want their in print for obvious reasons, told the reporters.

“The state focal person and his coordinators deduct money approved for us to cook food for the pupils.

“When we complain to the state focal person that the money is not enough, he usually tells us not to cook the food but take the money as our own empowerment”, the Vendors further alleged.

However, dismissing the allegations, the State Focal person, Dr Akpan said his office was currently compiling a compendium of schools being fed by the programme in the state.

He said on several occasions, the State office has used the Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation (AKBC) and other channels to address issues concerning the programme, claiming that those spreading false information are vendors whose contracts have been terminated due to poor service delivery.

“I am compiling a compendium of the schools we have fed, which will be made public any time from now. You know that politics has come into the programme”, Dr Akpan said. – With the Nation reports