Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State is indeed making positive strides in the infrastructural and socio-economic arenas.
Recall that the governor during his swearing-in ceremony unveiled his Governance and Economic Blueprint, the ARISE Agenda.
The ARISE Blueprint, which is his governance instrument, has five critical focal points: Agricultural Revolution, Rural Development, Infrastructural Maintenance, Security Management, and Education Advancement among other focal issues.
Undoubtedly, Governor Umo Eno has made giant strides since assuming office and some of his notable achievements include:
Establishment of an agency with the sole responsibility of driving our rural development, improving the quality of life of our rural dwellers, stimulating economic activities, and stemming rural-to-urban migration, the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).
Flagging off of critical or economic viable roads in all the three senatorial districts of the State.
The flagged off of the internal roads in Urua Akpan Andem, has been commissioned and delivered on schedule, by our very own HENSEK Integrated Services.
Flagging off of economically viable roads with adjoining communities in Ikot Ekpene, Oron, Nsit Ibom, Uyo, Ibesikpo Asutan, Urue offong Uruko Local Government Areas were among the early beneficiaries.
Construction of 2.2km Tabanacle road project and its environs.
Underground drainage spanning across Uyo and Itu Local Government Area.
Acquisition of over 50 thousand hectares of land in all 31 local government areas to ensure food security and to get our people involved in agro-allied enterprises.
Signposting of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the world-renowned Songhai Farms to start a model farm in our State, Hundreds of people have already been sent for training so they could form the nucleus of the skilled workers to drive this exercise.
Steady payment of gratuities to local government, primary school teachers, and state workers. Three billion Naira has so far been released for this exercise.
Commencement of an initial five-month payment of Leave Grants in the Main Service. This exercise started last month, and the first phase will end in December.
Construction of model primary schools and primary healthcare facilities across the three senatorial districts and work is ongoing at a fast pace at the location of the first of these model primary schools, the Christ the King School, (CKS) on Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo.
Free and compulsory education at primary and secondary school levels. As part of the palliatives the state government is rolling out, based on the initial 2 billion Naira received from the Federal Government, in the form of loans and rice, the state government intends to support parents with school uniforms, shoes, and the payment of bursary to students in tertiary instructions after proper verifications. Our commitment to the payment of WAEC fees is irrevocable, and we have already done so since we came in.
Distribution of additional bags of rice to each of the 2,272 gazetted villages; cash transfers to 53,000 workers in the State for three months, levy-free Fridays for transporters and traders for three months.
Our Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development Centre (ILED) will soon be up and running aimed at equipping our people with the right entrepreneurial and leadership skills, thus preparing them to compete with their peers elsewhere.
Creation of a full-fledged new ministry-the Ministry of Internal Security, headed by a retired general of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Koko Essien.
An apolitical and inclusive-minded Governor Umo Eno has vowed to continue on the developmental track, urging all Akwa lbomites to join hands with him to move the state forward in all positive ramifications: According to the Akwa lbom helmsman:
‘Elections are over, and our kindred spirit must be renewed and deepened, We are all Akwa Ibomites first before politics. Politics therefore must or sever the ties of our brotherhood and common heritage and aspirations,
“I pledge to you that I will be Governor for all Akwa Ibomites, irrespective of political persuasions or affiliations. Instead of war-war on critical issues of our development, let us embrace unity and brotherhood.’ Indeed, better days lie ahead for Akwa lbom citizens as Governor Umo Eno forges ahead with his grassroots-oriented agenda.
