Since assuming office on May 29, 2007, as the third democratically elected governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, has not relented in his efforts and vision to move the state to the next level with his uncommon transformation programmes.
And six years into that enviable journey, the bubbly and amiable governor has not only transformed and transmogrified Akwa Ibom, but has also succeeded in making the state, which was created on September 23, 1987, the envy of many, especially among his governor colleagues.
In fact, the state is now a benchmark for measuring success and performance for those occupying higher public offices.
In a recent interview with Sunday Express, the state’s very articulate and outspoken Commissioner of Information, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, proudly presented Akpabio’s midterm report. He also assured all that his governor’s uncommon transformation programmes will continue to impact positively on their people and the state, respectively.
“To start with, my boss and the governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Godswill Akpabio’s administration vision is to build a prosperous, highly educated, technologically driven, ethnically harmonious and pace-setting state in Nigeria. Also his policy thrust centres around creating enabling environment for industrialization, so as to provide employment opportunities for our children. My governor hopes to partner with the private sector to bring to reality, his hope of industrializing the state.”
In praise of his governor’s good works and giant strides in all the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom State, Umanah disclosed that Akpabio has invested enormously on roads infrastructural development.
He further argued that Akpabio’s drive for roads infrastructural development, was due to the realization that good roads network was a critical foundation for any emerging industrial economy to flourish.
“During the six-year of this administration, more than 310 roads covering over 1009 kilometres had been constructed. These include, six federal roads and other inter and intra roads across the three senatorial districts of the state. It might also interest you to know that a total of four fly-overs had been constructed in addition to more than 30 brand new bridges and underground drainage system across the state. In fact, the fifth fly over will soon be commissioned. This is unprecedented in the history of Nigerian leadership.”
Shedding more light on Akpabio’s laudable achievements and enviable records in the last six years, elated Umanah insisted that Akpabio’s most enduring legacy is perhaps in the educational system of the state.
He asserted that Akpabio has bequeathed to the people of Akwa Ibom State, free and compulsory educational policy.
“Under this policy our children of school age go to school free. It commences from primary to secondary school level. In addition to free tuition, the state pays a subvention of N100 per primary school pupil and N300 per secondary school student. Aside the provision of conducive learning environment in schools through massive rehabilitation and reconstruction of school blocks and others, Akpabio’s government also pays SSCE fees for all students in public secondary schools. More than 2500 school blocks had been rehabilitated by Akpabio’s administration. There is also the payment of NABTEB fees for all students in public technical colleges, payment of grant to law students as well as medical and pre medical students and provision of laptops to all law students in the Nigerian Law Schools.
Don’t also forget that this highly focused government constructed the first-in-Africa E-library, to serve as a reference centre for researchers. This administration also constructed internal roads in the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State University and the state’s Polytechnic. It provided 200,000 textbooks each in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Integrated Science.”
Still highlighting the huge success recorded by his boss, whom he also passionately described as the most decorated public office holder since independence, Umanah maintained that the health sector in Akwa Ibom State has experienced a revolution since the advent of Akpabio’s administration.
He disclosed that the administration has made it compulsory that free health care services must be provided for pregnant women, children and the aged in all parts of the state, adding that it had built five new cottage hospitals in Essien, Udim, Ibeno, Ukanafun, Eastern Obolo and Ika.
“Governor Akpabio donated N50 million to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital and the building of pediatric block. The construction of new PHCs in the three senatorial districts of the state is another plus for this administration. Purchase of brand new utility vehicles for all medical doctors in the state’s employment and many other health related achievements.”
Interestingly, the completion of the phase one of the Akwa Ibom International Airport has been one of the unique achievements of the Akpabio’s government.
This, according to Umanah, has launched the state in the global map as business and tourism activities have been boosted with the direct connection of the state to the rest of the world.
In the area of power sector, Umunah who was in Lagos together with the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Anietie Ukpe, stated that the Akpabio-led administration had completed work on the Ibom Power Plant projects. The plant, he further divulged would generate 685 megawatts of power and it’s being implemented in two phases.
“The plant is to enhance power generation through the existing national grid and to provide the much needed uninterrupted power supply to existing and future industries in the state and the region. The project will help us to achieve village-to-village rural electrification scheme, which has linked an additional 1400 communities to national grid, thereby making the state to achieve 85 percent electricity coverage, with a target of 100 percent. Other achievements in the power sector include the installation of power transmission lines from Ikot Abasi to Eket among others,” he posited amid smiles.
With the nation currently going through a lot of security challenges, Umunah was quick to say that the Akpabio’s administration has consistently put measures in place to checkmate and manage the internal security of the state in order to avoid the complete breakdown of law and order.
He submitted that the governor’s interest in the security of the state is paramount and predicated in his (governor’s) belief that: “The enviable position we occupy in the Niger Delta region must be sustained at all cost. This is the only way in which the much needed investors with the multiplier effects of mass job opportunities can be encouraged.”
Meanwhile, aside setting up Operation Thunder and Quick Response Squad, for maximum security, the governor had also donated gun boats to the Nigerian Navy, to help curtail and control maritime crimes. It has also donated over 300 vehicles and Armoured Personnel Carriers to the Police and other security agencies in the state among other institutional support and assistance geared towards fighting crime and making the state safe.
Youths and Sports, in the words of Umanah is another area very dear to the heart of his hard working governor.
He affirmed that in order to fast track youths and sports development in the state, the administration had embarked on the renovation of the Uyo Sports Stadium. Also the construction of a 30,000 capacity ultra-modern Olympic size stadium in Uyo, is another milestone recorded by the administration. This will enable it provide facilities for preparation of athletes for better outings at national and international competitions.
Umanah also averred that the Akpabio’s government is seriously and vigorously tackling the housing needs of Akwa Ibom people.
“As a promise keeper, my governor has kept to his avowed pledge of providing modern and affordable houses for the people of our state, starting with the state-of-the-art Governor’s Lodge complex, which was completed within 16 months and a host of other laudable achievements in that area.”
Aside embarking on a holistic industrialization of the entire state through the establishment of at least one cottage industry in each of the 31 LGAs in the oil rich state, the Akpabio administration is also investing hugely and heavily in tourism.
To this end, the Ibom Tropicana entertainment centre was created in the image of the Sun City of South Africa and the famous Disney land. The centre, which sits on a landmass of 82 hectares, is expected to create job opportunities for thousands of unemployment youths of the state.
Umanah, while describing the features of the world class Ibom Tropicana, explained that the fully completed and commissioned cineplex boasts of six screen cinema halls and a seat capacity of 1030. It’s equipped with a standard shopping mall with 59 standard shops and two banks.
The complex, which is gradually redefining the entertainment landscape of Nigeria, has an ultra-modern convention centre with a multi-floor capacity of 5000, alongside a 15-storey five star hotel with an intimidating 250 rooms. Amazingly, you can’t but marvel at the Tropicana’s theme park with dry and wet rides and attractions covering an area of three hectares.
“With all these laudable achievements and uncommon transformation programmes in Akwa Ibom in the last six years, please tell me if our amiable governor is not truly a God-sent leader to the people of Akwa Ibom State,” Umanah asked with a serious look on his face.
“Don’t also forget that my governor is promoting rural economic empowerment by aggressively financing and encouraging the creation of micro, small and medium scale enterprises, particularly in the agro-allied sectors.”
On the over flogged issue of who succeeds Godswill Akpabio in 2015, Umanah went philosophical, but this was after being quiet for almost a minute, apparently to gather his thoughts together.
“Even though 2015 was not what brought me and my team to Lagos, I want to categorically say that the people of Akwa Ibom State and the PDP structure in our state will decide who succeeds my governor in 2015. All these are in God’s hands. We would not want to be distracted by the issue of 2015. What is paramount in this administration is the continuation of the on-going uncommon transformation programmes of our able and amiable governor.”
Umanah ended the interview by quoting his boss and the current chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, verbatim.
“We have indeed laid the foundation for sustainable economic development and industrialization of our state through our uncommon transformation programme. We have created the basement infrastructure and enabling environment for business to thrive. We welcome you to come and invest in our dear state and you will be glad you did.”
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