Akwa Ibom State Government has announced measures to further mitigate the prevailing high cost of living and hardship, beginning with the Yuletide season, saying the measure is intended to ensure that the traditional joy associated with the season is not lost to the hardship in the land.

This is contained in a statement by the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Sir Charles Udoh, at the weekend in Uyo, to unveil developments concerning the 2024 Christmas Unplugged Season 2.0, titled, ‘It’s Time to Unplug as Another Christmas to Remember Holds in Akwa Ibom State.’

According to him, a major highpoint of the Yuletide season is the state’s Christmas carol, which celebration is felt around the state and beyond through visiting tourists and wide broadcasts aimed at not just Akwa Ibom citizens in a right mood for Chrismas, but to provide quick business opportunities for citizens as they attend to local and other tourists during the fiesta.

Describing one of the latest developments as divine intervention, the commissioner said the only hitch that would have dampened the business aspect of the fiesta had been cleared by the intervention of Governor Umo Eno, who had announced the decision of the state government to subsidise the cost of kiosks for persons intending to do business during the Christmas .

Unplugged Season 2.0.
He said the governor’s intervention grossly reduced the cost of renting kiosks and open spaces when compared to what was obtained last year.

“The measure is part of efforts by Governor Umoh Eno to cushion the effects of the current high cost of living and hardship confronting the people,” the commissioner said.