The administration of Obong Godswill Akpabio, executive governor of Akwa Ibom State, was one year old on May 29, 2008. One year in the life of a government would seem like a brief passage, usually set aside for planning and very little or nothing else. For Akpabio the story is different. Yes, there was much planning that went into his first year in office, but Akpabio is distinguished by the solid achievements of his administration in terms of infrastructure, human capacity building and empowerment, investment-friendly policies, peace and security.  

TODAY'S BUILDERS OF AKWA IBOM

Governor Godswill Akpabio Mr. Umana Okon Umana, Secretary to State Government Engineer Patrick Ekpotu, Deputy Governor

Infrastructure

Within the first year in office Akpabio wrote an N80 billion cheque to build and rehabilitate a total of 344-kilometre road network in the state. Some of the roads include federal government-owned roads which had fallen into disuse over the years like the 29-kilometre stretch of the Calabar-Itu Road leading into Uyo from Itam which is being dualised at the cost of N20 billion. Other strategic roads being rebuilt by the current government include Iwukem-Etim Ekpo-Afaha Obong Road, Enen Nsit Road in Nsit Ubium council area, Ise Ikot Amama-Nung Udoe Road, Ikot Ekpene-Abak Road. Overall, the current government in the state has an impressive scorecard on roads: 26 roads rebuilt in Ikot Ekpene council area; 18 in Ikot Abasi; 49 in Eket; 34 in Oron, etc. The Akpabio Administration also invested N8 billion in a rural improvement scheme. The scheme, which is being prosecuted by the state’s Inter-ministerial Committee on Direct Labour Projects, is constructing 800 electricity projects, 700 mini waterworks, and many other life-enhancing projects like school rehabilitation works in all parts of the state. The government is working on new projects. It has started work on the Ibom Hotel extension, planned to be 15-storey, 350-bedroom facility. Another 5-star hotel, which will be part of a modern galleria, is also in the works in Uyo. The galleria will come with a shopping mall and a dome. (Please see a list of completed projects commissioned during the first anniversary ceremonies and list of projects completed and ready for commissioning).  

List of Akwa Ibom Projects (pdf)

Empowerment

The government pursued a vigorous policy of capacity building and empowerment of the people in the last 12 months. It floated micro-credit facility for youths, women, farmers, artisans using grassroots organisations as trustees. For instance, the government gave N100 million to the Christian Association of Nigeria for on-lending to members in need of small loans for their businesses. Similarly, the government disbursed N400 million to NAPEP. So far the state government has released N1 billion to finance the micro-credit scheme in the state. In like manner government floated a taxi scheme with initial fleet of 400 new cars. The cars are being leased to operators who must be indigenes of the state.  

Social services

Under Akpabio citizens of Akwa Ibom have enjoyed improvement in social services. The government built and equipped a dialysis centre with 17 dialysis machines for the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital; instituted training programmes for doctors and other health workers working for the state; established a scholarship scheme for medical students. The government has also started the rehabilitation of general hospitals in the state. Education and other services have also improved. For instance, the state polytechnic and college of education have had accreditation for their courses restored after losing them over the years to poor funding and decaying infrastructure.  

Continuity

The Akpabio Administration has made the policy of continuity an integral part of its development plan for the state. In expression of this policy the new government is going on with projects inherited from the previous administration. These projects include Ibom Hotel, Akwa Ibom International Airport, Independent Power Plant in Ikot Abasi, the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Ibom Science Park, and so on.  

Following is a galaxy of photographs showing some of Governor Akpabio’s physical achievements in his first year in office.

A fleet of cars for a taxi scheme financed by the state government.		A section of a football stadium in Uyo being rehabilitated by the state government.
A school in Afaha Itam being rehabilitated by the state government.		A section of the federal government-owned Calabar-Itu Road being dualised by the state government.
Hanger being constructed at the Akwa Ibom International Airport.		Control tower under construction the airport.

Le Meridien Ibom Hotel & Golf Resorts started by the previous government and completed by the Akpabio Administration.

Iwukem-Etim Ekpo-Afahaobong Road under construction. The road had become disused for more than 15 years.
		One of the 17 dialysis machines donated by the state government to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital.

 

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