Following the inauguration of the Board of Akwa Ibom State Bulk Purchase Agency, on Friday by Governor Umo Eno, the Media Consultant to Akwa Ibom State government, Hon. Aniekan Umanah, has stated that the coming on board of the interventionist initiative of the Governor would guarantee food availability, as well as stability in the prices of stable food items in the State.Featuring on a radio program, #InsideTheAriseAgenda on Mixx 88.7FM, Friday, Hon. Umanah who is a former House of Representatives Member and a one time Commissioner for Information in the State, explained that the setting up of the Bulk Purchase Agency is inline with section 1 and 3 of the economic blueprint of the ARISE AGENDA of the Umo Eno led administration, which seeks to ensure food availability, poverty alleviation, and price stability.“His Excellency is already implementing what he outlined in the economic blueprint of his ARISE AGENDA”.Umanah, who is a member of the steering committee overseeing the take-off of the implementation of the committee on Food Security Programme, further hinted that those eligible to benefit from the State government’s free food program are the vulnerable who are captured in the State social register.“It’s meant for those who are truly vulnerable. The information is there with the Ministry of Economic Development. The register is the plank on which the food security initiative of this bulk purchase agency which would be flagged off next week by His Excellency”.The State Media Consultant had hinted that Governor Umo Eno would be performing the flag off of the food distribution to Akwa Ibom people, Tuesday next week at the popular Itam Market in ITU to ensure its workability. He disclosed that the Tuesday flag off exercise would snowball to other markets across the 31 local government areas.The palliative, he noted is aimed at creating some succour to those who do not have access to proper livelihood at a time like this.“In the United Kingdom you have organs like that, that serves as a stop gap agency that is there for the people So, the Bulk Purchase Agency would ensure price stability. It is a very well intentioned law, a very intentioned agency. One of the key functions as clearly spelt out in the law is towards mitigating the high prices of food and ensuring food availability in different ways”.“The action of the Governor with the inauguration of the agency, has has given life to that agency. Which means there is life in that agency with the inauguration of the board. Allyou need to see is a signage on wall of a shop that says; This is a redemption centre. You go there, present your voucher and collect your food”.“One of the agency’s role would be off taking. As farmers plant and grow crops, upon harvesting the agency would off take the food, stock them and release the bulk in the market in a way that would stabilize the price”.Hon. Umanah described the composition of the Chairmanship, General Manager and other members of the Board of the agency as round pegs in round hole, and praised the Governor for selecting competent hands to run the affairs of the agency.