By Udeme Hosea

The Akwa Ibom State Government has constructed 500 ARISE Compassionate Homes for vulnerable persons across the state, with 461 already handed over to beneficiaries. Each beneficiary received a ₦500,000 business grant to sustain their livelihood.

The Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Princess Emem Ibanga, disclosed this during the Ministerial Briefing in Uyo on Monday, where she outlined the administration’s humanitarian and social protection strides.

Ibanga said the housing intervention is part of a broader social safety net that has reached hundreds of thousands of families across the 31 Local Government Areas.

According to her, the ARISE Free Food Security Programme has reached 833,481 households, while 101,265 vulnerable households benefited from the Conditional Cash Transfer between 2024 and 2026.

Each household received ₦75,000, amounting to over ₦7.59 billion in direct cash support.

She added that 12,000 elderly persons in the state have been captured under the Elderly Citizens Initiative, with 1,481 enrolled in the ARISE Health Insurance Scheme for free healthcare.

For persons with disabilities, she said 1,287 have been enrolled in the health insurance scheme, while 444 mobility aids, including 263 wheelchairs and 181 walking devices, have been distributed and a ₦100 million educational fund is supporting 243 students living with disabilities.

On youth empowerment, she said over 2,000 youths have received work equipment, 30,000 youths got ₦50,000 financial support each, and 62 beneficiaries received mini-buses and business support.

The Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, in his tone setting said, the interventions by the state government demonstrate Pastor Umo Eno’s passion to improve livelihood, housing and care.

Umanah stressed that the administration is anchored on transparency as a mechanism for public accountability and factual reporting of government expenditure and impact.

He noted that all beneficiary lists are documented across the 31 Local Government Areas, with cash transfers made through verifiable channels and cooperative audits instituted to ensure funds are properly utilized.