PHOTO NEWS: GOV UDOM EMMANUEL’S SUPERLATIVE PERFORMANCE IN UYO SENATORIAL DISTRICT
Aniekeme Finbarr
……………..It is manifestly evident that Governor Udom Emmanuel is equitably apportioning life touching projects across Akwa Ibom State. Akwa Ibom is indeed working under the capable watch of the proactive leader, as people-oriented projects and programmes are being undertaken everywhere in the state, including Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District.
Indeed, the Captain of Team Akwa Ibom is deploying his experience, acumen and connections to contend with economic uncertainties in ensuring top notch development and improved living conditions for the masses.
In Uyo Senatorial District, there is a New Taxiway at the Akwa Ibom International Airport, several kilometres of strategic roads, completed and ongoing. Other imprints in infrastructure include the Sports Centre at Itam, Itu LGA to boost sports at the grassroots, the New Secretariat Annex which has created a productive work ambience for public servants.
The Industrialization agenda is firmly on course in the district, through the revitalization of dead and ailing industries and the establishment of new ones. Peacork Paints, Ikot Ekang, Etinan, Akwa Prime Hatchery and Poultry Limited (the first hatchery in South South and South East Nigeria) as well as toothpick and pencil factory. The 132/33KV and 1.30MvA transmission sub-stations have really boosted and improved electricity and power supply in Uyo.
The free and compulsory education programme gives every child of school age resident in Akwa Ibom, regardless of state of origin, access to qualitative education from primary to senior secondary school level. In addition to free tuition, the state pays a subvention of N100 per primary school pupil and N300 per secondary school students per term to cater for logistics. With over one million five hundred thousand students enrolment in public schools has tripled since the introduction of the programme.
Governor Udom Emmanuel late 2017 kickstarted the construction of over 46 new roads within Uyo metropolis. Some of the roads include; Udotung Ubo Lane, off UdotungUbo street, Ibiono street, off Ikot Abasi street, Etoi street, off Ikot Abasi street, Akpa Ube Close, off IBB way by AKEES office and Teacher’s House, Graceland school road, Shelter Afrique, Akparen street, off Ikot Abasi street, Afaha Etok Ibesikpo by Tropicana Entertainment, Prof Offiong Street, Shelter Afrique, Vision Close, Nsukkara Offot, Idongesit Crescent, Off Barracks road, Ebong Street, off Barracks road, Ebong Lane, off Barracks road, Asutan street, off Barracks road, Umoren Extension, Library Avenue, Nung Atai road, Akpaube Crescent, Opp Ibom Hall,Akwa Ima Extension road, off Goodluck Jonathan Boulevard, Aka Community School road, Youth Avenue, off Oron road, Mbiabong, Stallion hotel road by Ediye street, Ewet Housing Estate, Akpan Ndem by Four Lane, Ewet Housing, Redeemed Christian Church road, Ibesikpo, Ukim close off D Line Ewet Housing Estate, Afaha Ikot Obio Nkan road, opposite Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, several roads within Ewet Housing Extension, covering about 5 kilometres, Ntiedo Udosen street, roads around the state secretariat annex and Believers Assembly, Mbiabong Etoi, Ring road 2 which is the continuation of Udo Udoma Avenue down to Abak road and others. The above is not exhaustive. The 6.1 km Atan Offot roads are completed in part. Information Drive and Internal roads at the Cornelia Cornelly College, Uyo were earlier constructed and commissioned.
In a swift response to the challenge of flooding that affected key locations in the state capital, Governor Udom Emmanuel has delivered an outfall drain system that will permanently end the menace of flooding in Uyo. Flagged off in August 2015, the Nsikak Eduok/Oron Road/Akwa Efak/Tropicana Complex/Ibesikpo drains is delivered to world class standards. It is handled by Julius Berger Plc and has a 1.5 km long drains; underground drains and open water channels. There are also side drains, fencing to protect residents, mesh and asphalted roads to complement the project.
Other roads within the senatorial district earlier commissioned include the 3.5km Ikot Udom road, 6 km Idiaba -Nda Nsit road in Nsit Atai and Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Areas. The ongoing road projects include; 29km Etinan -Ndon Eyo road with 2 bridges. Work has advanced on that project and should be ready in record time. Work is cruising fine on the 14.5km Airport Junction, Uyo – Nsit Atai – Okopedi road dualization, handled by Aquatix Construction Limited. Towards the Uruan axis is the 15.317 Anua – Mbak Ishiet road by Verini Construction. Julius Berger is still pushing on the Ikot Oku Ikono – Etinan road dualization.
Through the Inter Ministerial Direct Labour Committee, Governor Udom Emmanuel has added value to the state. Educational facilities and equipment are prioritized as the government is renovating and erecting new facilities like classrooms, lecture rooms and hostel blocks across the district. Equipment like school desks, computers, laboratory equipment and reagents. Some of the projects are: In Etinan Local Government Area, a 7 classroom block with offices had been constructed at Government Primary School, Ekom Iman, a 3 Classroom block at Community Secondary School, Asuna, 2 staff Quarters and a 3 classroom block at Salvation Army Secondary School, Efa. In Ibesikpo Asutan, a 3 classroom block with 4 offices at Government Primary School, Akpa Utong, 4 Classroom block at St Bridges Primary School, Nung Ette, a 3 classroom block at Lutheran Primary School, Nung Udoe. In Ibiono Ibom, a 3 classroom block at St paul’s Catholic School, Nkwa, a 4 classroom block and Assembly Hall at Holy Trinity Primary School, Ikot Akpabio, Ibiono. In Itu, a 4 Classroom Block, Introductory Technology Workshop, Solar Borehole at Itam Secondary School, Itam. In Nsit Atai, an Assemby Hall at QIC School, Ikot Ekpot, a 3 classroom block at Community Primary School, Ikot Akpan Ike, In Nsit Ibom, a 3 classroom block at Secondary School, Edeobom. In Nsit Ubium, an Assembly Hall at Government School, Ikot Eyo. In Uruan, a 7 classroom block and Assembly Hall at AME Zion School, Ndon Ebom. In Uyo, a 6 classroom block, Intro Tech Block, Classroom block with 2 Halls and Solar boreholes all at Community Secondary School, Four Towns.
Governor Udom Emmanuel is very youth friendly. Over 9000 youths including those in Uyo Senatorial District, have been trained in various vocational skills. The 2nd Akwa Ibom State Youth Sports Festival is ongoing. 3000 youths along side those in Uyo Senatorial District, have been trained on digital marketing in collaboration with Google.
To crown it all, 2,308 Youths from Uyo senatorial district have been trained by the office of the SA on Youth Empowerment, on different skills (Printing, Film acting, herbal production, barbing, chalks & Paints, electrical work, cosmetology, fashion design, carpentry, hairdressing, landscaping, vulcanizing, shoe making, photography and pharmaceuticals etc).
In health, Governor Udom Emmanuel started his development excursus at the 78 years old Premier St. Luke’s Hospital Anua. He built a New Administrative Storey building block named after Dr Ann Ward. Two other buildings were completely renovated including the Gynecology block and the Male block. The Etinan General Hospital has been completely rehabilitated, upgraded, and equipped with modern hi tech health care facilities. The Ituk Mbang General Hospital has been up for remodeling and upgrading courtesy of Governor Udom Emmanuel to provide secondary helath services for the Uyo.
In agriculture, Governor Udom Emmanuel embarked on the distribution of improved oil palm and cocoa seedlings to farmers in the state; participated in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Rice Anchor Borrowers scheme with about 4,920 registered rice farmers for empowerment; commissioned 1,000,000 day-old-chicks (DOCS)/per month Capacity Poultry Hatchery complex at Mbiaya Uruan through public private partnership (PPP); Mobilization of poultry farmers to off-take the product of the poultry hatchery at Mbiaya Uruan; Establishment of out-take the product of the poultry hatchery at Mbiaya Uruan; establishment of out-growers scheme for the hatchery and training scheme of poultry farmers; extension and technical advisory services to about 350 fish farms in the State and identification of water reservoirs for inland fisheries programme; data collection and collation from fishing settlement and farms for enhanced fisheries policies, collaboration with Skye Bank and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Anchor Borrowers Scheme for cassava farmers and mobilization of 5,000 cassava farmers for the scheme as well as creation of 5,000 jobs (downstream) and about 15,000 jobs (upstream) through the value addition, collaboration with Sky Bank and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Anchor Borrowers Scheme for cat fish farmers and mobilization of 2,000 cat fish farmers for the scheme as well as creation of 6,000 jobs (downstream) and 18,000 (upstream) through value addition.
One article is not enough to do justice to Governor Udom Emmanuel’s excellent strides in Uyo Senatorial District and Akwa Ibom State by extension. The people are excited as he finishes his first term strong with renewed commitment to do more in the second stanza.
Finbarr is a Public Affairs Analyst
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