Vendors beg EFCC to investigate FG's feeding programme in Akwa Ibom

Angered by the sordid development, they have called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the programme.

Some of the vendors, who spoke with reporters yesterday, accused the state focal person and his collaborators of allegedly diverting money meant for the feeding of pupils.

They said the programme has stopped for many years in the state due to the alleged fraudulent activities of the focal person.

"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.

"The state focal person and his coordinators deduct money approved for us to cook food for the pupils,ÔÇØ the vendors said, adding: "When they 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.ÔÇØ

Responding, Dr. Akpan dismissed the allegations, saying he was compiling a compendium of schools being fed by the programme in the state.

He said he has spoken several times on Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation (AKBC) and other channels on the issue, adding that the vendors spreading the false information are those whose contracts have been terminated.

"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.ÔÇØ