“WHAT HAS PASTOR UMO ENO DONE WITH TAX PAYERS’ MONEY SO FAR?”

• Ubon Marcus

In a democratic setting such as ours where leaders are accountable to the electorate, it is not out of place for one to seek answers to questions such as the one posed above.

Therefore, this writer deems it fit to bring to the fore, an overview of projects undertaken by the Umo Eno administration so far, as well as her policies, especially against the backdrop of a somewhat misleading report recently published by an NGO.

Governor Umo Eno who from the onset made his intentions very clear, has remained undaunted, focusing his attention on activities geared towards improving the wellbeing of the generality of the people of Akwa Ibom State.

Riding on a strategic roadmap known as The ARISE Agenda, His Excellency in less than 200 days in office has vigorously traversed the length and breadth of the state, bringing life to rural communities through well thought out policies designed to positively improve the socio-economic well-being of the people.

He has adopted a well-planned multi-sectorial approach which spans across healthcare, education, agriculture, infrastructural development, and housing, each tailored towards achieving sustained improvement of the quality of life in our dear state.

Projects/policies undertaken by the Umo Eno Administration in some of the sectors are as follows:

ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE:

1. Construction of Ndiya Street plus access/internal roads in Akpan Andem Market alongside drains, executed, completed, and commissioned within His Excellency’s first 100 days in office.
2. Construction of an 11km AKS Rural Access Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) demonstration road traversing Owot Uta – Nnung Oku Ekere – Afaha Udo Eyop – Edebom 1 by Ekponwa Market, connecting Nsit Ibom LGA with Ibesikpo Asutan LGA.
3. Construction of Tabernacle road linking Ikot Ekpene road and Nelson Mandela road.
4. Ongoing construction of underground discharge drainage from Atiku Abubakar road to Olusegun Obasanjo Way.
5. Ongoing construction of Spring Road with outfall drains in Ikot Ekpene LGA. This road provides access to the famous Goretti Secondary School.
6. Construction of Ukpong Street, as well as Effiong Essang Street with discharge drains in Oron LGA.
7. Construction of internal roads network in Mkpok Housing Estate, Eket LGA.
8. Gully erosion intervention project at Afia Nsit road, Eket LGA.
9. Construction of main access roads to Dakkada Global Oil Palm Ltd traversing Mbo, Esit Eket, and UrueOffong Oruko LGAs as well as internal roads in the plantation.
10. Those in the pipeline are as follows:

• Construction of Roadside Drainage Facilities in parts of the state.
• Ashphalt overlay and provision of solar street lighting system on Akpan Isemin Street, Uyo.
• Reconstruction of Udo Inwang Road and construction of erosion control facilities in the area.
• Remediation/Erosion Control Works at Ewet Offot Street.
• Construction of 12.5 Kilometers Nung Ukim Ikono-Afaha Obio Enang-Nung Udoe Itak Road.

EDUCATION:

1. Construction of Christ the King Model Primary School located at Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo to an ultramodern standard with audio/visual learning materials installed in classrooms. Buildings that existed in the school premises had outlived their usefulness and were demolished for new ones to be built afresh. This project is nearing completion.
2. Ongoing construction of Ewet Model Primary School with access road plus landscaping of school premises and equipping of classrooms at Uruan Street, nearing completion.
3. Construction of Model Government Primary School Idung Offiong, in Eket LGA flagged off in Novemer, 2023 to be equipped with solar power, security gate, perimeter fence, staff quarters and modern learning facilities plus the provision of school uniforms, books and shoes for the students. As is the case in CKS, buildings that existed in this school premises have outlived their usefulness and are being demolished for new ones to be built afresh.
4. Distribution of exercise books to primary and secondary schools in the state.
5. Sewing/distribution of uniforms and school sandals to pupils of public schools free of charge.
6. Payment of N10, 000.00 bursary to undergraduates of Akwa Ibom origin in all Public tertiary institutions in the country. Currently, the verification process is ongoing and monies will be paid directly to the respective account of each student upon completion.
8. N10M scholarship to Master Kentimfon Ndanyongmong, winner of Heirs Life National Essay Competition, for training in any tertiary institution of his choice. HEALTH CARE
9. Construction/equipping of Model Primary Healthcare Centre, Oboyo Ikot Ita, Nsit Ibom flagged off on 11th November 2023.
10. Construction/equipping of Model Primary Health Centre, Ikot Nkwo Village, Ibesikpo Asutan LGA nearing completion.
11. Renovation/re-equipping of General Hospital, Ikot Akpankuk, Ukanafun LGA.
12. Construction/equipping of Primary Health Centre, Eyulor, Urue-Offong Oruko LGA.
13. Fresh construction/reequipping of Primary Health Centre, Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo.
14. Proposed Ibom Medical tourism corridor from Ibom Specialist Hospital to Four Points by Sheraton.
15. Proposed establishment of a Renal Centre in the state, which will incorporate specialized services in renal medicine including kidney transplant and dialysis.

N/B: The details which His Excellency has put into planning of the new Primary Health Centers, their components and units, are as specified by National Primary Healthcare Development Agency in conjunction with Nigeria Governors Forum.

HOUSING

Construction of 250 Units of ARISE City Housing Estate in Mbierebe Akpawat, Ibesikpo Asutan LGA.

AGRICULTURE
Siting of the pilot Ibom Model Integrated Farms at Ikot Edibon, Nsit Ubuim LGA.

WELFARE

1. Release of over N4bn for the payment of gratuities and leave grants of workers.
2. Approval for the payment of 13th month basic salary to civil servants tagged “Enomber”.
3. Release of over N2bn to augment palliatives sent by FG to the state.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Hosting of the 1st Made-in-Akwa Ibom Trade Fair with attendant economic benefits.
2. Establishment of Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development Centre (Ibom LED), plus a tailoring hub and shoe factory therein.
3. Payment of training fees for 400 young entrepreneurs currently undergoing training in Ibom LED and the release of a N250M business grant which will be disbursed to them upon completion of training.
4. Sponsorship of ongoing Capacity Development Programme for 10,000 women in the state.
5. Rehabilitation of Akpan Andem Market as follows: construction of access/internal road, provision of modern toilet facilities, solar powered lights, and water, executed, completed, and commissioned within His Excellency’s first 100 days in office.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that His Excellency Pastor Umo Eno is working assiduously to justify the mandate that Akwa Ibom people bestowed on him to serve them as their Governor and is focused on the task at hand.

I therefore call on lovers of good governance and Akwa Ibom people in general to remain undaunted in their support for Umo Eno Administration.

Thank you for reading.

• Ubon Marcus is Gov. Umo Eno’s Special Assistant on Strategic Communication.

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