By Henshaw Nyong
When Nigeria embarked on the transition to democracy in 1999,
the party that swept away most of the elective offices was the Peoples’
Democratic Party (PDP) which not only had the Presidency and the majority of
the National Assembly but also won 21 governorship seats.
One of the states the PDP took control of, was Akwa Ibom; a
State in the South South, which was created from the Cross River State in 1987.
However, six (6) Military Administrators and four (4)
democratically elected governors have piloted the affairs of the oil rich Akwa
Ibom which celebrated her three decades of Statehood on 27th September, 2017.
Howbeit, Akwa Ibom ranks among the States in Nigeria, that can
boast of a rapid transformation, as could be visibly seen, in the area of roads
and infrastructure, health, education, industrial growth and peaceful
co-existence, amongst its citizens.
In his inaugural address after being sworn-in as the 10th
Governor of Akwa Ibom State, on Friday, 29th May, 2015, Mr Udom Gabriel
Emmanuel, offered himself as a servant and a co-labourer before a large crowd
of Akwa Ibomites who witnessed the swearing-in ceremony at the Godswill Akpabio
International Stadium, Uyo.
In the very mouth of the newly sworn-in State Chief Executive:
‘‘I stand before you today not as a master but as a servant and not as a boss
but as a co-labourer. I accept, with great humility and sense of
responsibility, the mandate you have freely given to me to hold power in trust
for you as your Governor. You have kept your part of the covenant and I intend
to keep my part by executing the programmes I enunciated to you during my
official declaration to run for the office of Governor‘‘, said Mr. Emmanuel.
Two years after, unbiased analysts and keen observers of
government activities in Akwa Ibom are of the opinion that, the financial
guru-turned-governor has made gargantuan transformation in every area of
governance in the State through what has overtime become to be known as the
“Superior Performance” administration. Many have said that, Mr Emmanuel has
succeeded in bridging the gap between the elite and masses as far as the
delivery of dividends of democracy is concerned.
Under the Emmanuel’s leadership, Akwa Ibom State has experienced
growth and development across all sectors. His administration has garnered
immense acclaim for its strong determination to ensure even development in all
sectors.
From power to roads and infrastructure, agriculture, health,
housing and education, the present administration has recorded giant strides in
Akwa Ibom State.
Evaluating the twenty nine months reign of Udom Emmanuel as
Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Aniedi Brown, a Political strategist and
commentator on contemporary issues, said: ‘‘Governor Udom Emmanuel has
transformed Akwa Ibom State from a pedestrian state to an industrial hub’’.
Brown, a politician and successful businessman further said: "The governor
has been able to launch the State into the international globe by creating an
enabling ground for investors to come in and invest in the state.
‘‘Take for instance, the coconut refinery in my Local Government
Area; Mkpat Enin, it is a multi-million Naira project which will create over
5000 jobs for the inhabitants of Akwa Ibom state. Of course, you know that this
project will reduce the poverty line and will also increase the Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) of Akwa Ibom and place the State in front burner.
‘‘Don’t forget that, for the coconut refinery to function
properly, the governor in his wisdom ensured that there is a power substation
in Ekim, which will give constant power to over five (5) Local Government
Areas.
‘‘The Governor within his two years in office has also gone into
massive road construction and infrastructural renaissance in the entire ten
federal constituencies, especial in areas that never benefitted from previous
administrations. Places like: Oron, Udung Uko, Okobo, Mbo, Oruk Anam, Uruan,
Mkpat Enin and other areas that hitherto, had no good roads, can now boast of
three to four new roads done by the Udom administration", Mr Brown said.
But, what is the secret of Governor Emmanuel’s success you may
ask? Two words describe it. Political skill; Mr Udom Emmanuel has it in
abundance. You might add other expressions such as sincere desire to serve the
people of Akwa Ibom. The governor knows how to work with everyone including the
cynics.
Leadership, according to the great American scholar and author;
Warren Bennis, is the capacity to translate vision into reality. Despite the
dwindling oil revenue, the first major feats achieved by Governor Emmanuel
were: payment of 10 years arrears of pensions and gratuities to Local
Government Employees; special intervention at St. Luke’s Hospital, Anua, Uyo,
intervention work on the gulley erosion on Calabar-Itu Road; Dominic Utuk
Avenue, Abak Independence Hall area and Anua etc., as well as ensuring that
salaries and wages of Akwa Ibom State Workers are paid promptly.
These came at a time when about 27 States of the federation were
unable to pay salaries to their workers, despite receiving bailouts from the
federal government.
However, we are not unaware that we live in a time of extreme
economic challenges occasioned by the recession our nation is currently
grappling with. But how soothing is it to know that, ’’when men shall say there
is a casting down our testimony shall be that there is a lifting up’’.
Whereas other States in the country are struggling with abject
poverty, starvation and penury, our testimonies in Akwa Ibom are different.
Ours are filled with sweet stories of over 18 to 20 hours of power daily. Akwa
Ibom State government workers are smiling to their banks on 27th of every month
for their salaries. Every child resident in the State in Government Primary and
Secondary School is a beneficiary of free and compulsory education of the
current administration. Our roads measuring over 1,100 kilometers are wearing
new look courtesy of the present administration. Our people are also singing
"Hossana to the Highest" because the once Civil Service Akwa Ibom is
fast becoming a cynosure of all eyes. Below are other achievements of Governor
Udom Emmanuel in few sectors.
POWER:
Power and energy are very critical to industrialization
particularly and for the overall development of any society. Hardly can any
sector of the economy grow without power.
And so, in his quest to catapult Akwa Ibom State into an
industrial hub in the gulf of Guinea, Governor Udom Emmanuel has vigorously
tackled Power generation in the state to boost commercial and domestic
activities. Achievements recorded in the power sector include:
Attainment of 18 hours daily electricity supply and installation
of “dead bus” technology which allows Akwa Ibom to be an island of power supply
during National Grid outages. Others are: Configuration and inauguration of GT
2 to enable IPP operate at 80 percent of installed capacity as required under
the CBN-NESI fund, proposal to NERC for expansion of IPP licence (from 191MW to
670MW), completion of electricity distribution asset evaluation to ascertain
the number of transformers and customers on each transformer in every village,
ward and community across the three senatorial districts.
The Emmanuel administration has built structure/capacity for the
effective operation of the technical and commercial activities of the power
distribution sub-sector in the state. There is also a collaboration by the
management of Ibom Power with TCN and NERC for the creation of a work centre in
the State – initial six staff were posted to the State. There's an improvement
of power supply in various communities across the State, including, Etebi Ikot
Udofa/Ikot Udota in Eket L.G.A, Etinan L.G.A, Ikot Abasi Town, Ikot Akpan Mkpe,
Afaha Atai in Onna LGA, Awa Ikot Nsong, Nkana Communities, Ewet Housing Estate,
AKBC in Ntak Inyang, Peacock Paint Industry and Ibom e-library within Uyo
Capital City while a power station is built at Ekim in Mkpat Enin Local
Government Area to ensure uninterrupted power in no fewer than five LGAs.
ROAD AND INFRASTRUCTURE:
In spite of the shortfall in federal allocation, several
kilometres of roads and bridges have been constructed by the Udom Emmanuel
administration even as many more are under construction. These roads are
strategically networked to provide efficient movement of goods and services
around the State and to accommodate the looming influx of vehicular traffic in
the state. So far, the Udom Emmanuel led government has constructed at least
1,100 kilometres of roads, and 40 bridges across the three senatorial
districts.
Communities that were once cut off have been opened up. In
fulfilment of his electioneering promises to Akwa Ibom people, the Governor,
less than a year in office, inaugurated a good number of roads in areas that
were in dire need. A couple of them like Efiat, Mary Hanney, Anwana Esin were
some of the over 6.6km internal roads with outfall drains in Oron LGA, where
the entire terrain was taken over by flood as at the middle of 2015. The
Information Drive in Uyo, the Ikot Udom road in Ibiono Ibom, Mkpok-Okat and Awa
Iman roads in Onna, including the internal roads at the Cornelia Cornelly
College, Uyo are some the roads the governor inaugurated during his first year
in office. Apart from the aforementioned, the governor has also inaugurated the
Eket-Ibeno road, the Nto Edino-Ekwere Azu road, phase 1, in Obot Akara Local
Government Area, the Ikot Usop- Ikot Edeghe – Ikot Ekpuk Road in Mkpat Enin
with a 30m bridge, the Idiaba- Nda Nsit – Ikot Abasi –Nung Udoe in Nsit Atai
Local Government Area and several others. The second taxiway is nearing
completion at the Ibom International Airport to support the industrialization
drive of the current administration.
The governor in his wisdom has also opened up some areas in the
State for industrial and commercial growth, thus, constructing a good number of
roads in such areas. The 5 km Mkpok- Okat Road and the 3.5 km Awa Ikot Nkan
Road with a 15m bridge, both in ONNA Local Government Area, takes any visitor
to the world-class Syringe Manufacturing Company and Metering Factory. The Ikot
Usop- Ikot Edeghe – Ikot Ekpuk Road in Mkpat Enin with a 30m bridge will serve
the proposed Coconut Plantation and Refinery in Mkpat Enin, while the Odoro
Ikpe – Itu Mbonuso Road will not only open up Ini Local Government Area, but
will also serve as the evacuation route for the proposed rice farm and rice
processing industry in the area. Still in Ikono/ Ini Federal Constituency, the
governor has also constructed the road leading to the College of Arts and
Science in Nung Ukim, a 4.6Km road.
There is also the construction of a dual carriageway from Uyo to
Etinan and the Ikot Ebidang Road Onna LGA, which will serve the rice farming
community. The Anua – Mbak –Issiet Beach Road in Uruan Local Government Area is
another case of taking infrastructure to where it is needed most. The Beach
Market in Adiadia, in Uruan, is an income spinner to the people and government
of the state.
Oron Federal Constituency is grateful to the governor for his
bold attempt to fix the road infrastructural deficiencies in Oron, Okobo, Mbo
and Udung Uko as the areas are witnessing on-going construction of roads and
highways.
As a mark of sincerity of purpose and commitment to the
realization of the Ibaka Deep Seaport and Industrial City project, work is
on-going 36.7km super highway that will traverse communities in Upenekang,
Ibeno –Esit Eket to Mbo Local Government Areas. The proposed highway will be a
12-lane road of six lanes on each side. Four of the lanes will be medial speed
lanes with a toll gate, while the other two, on either side will serve as
service and exit lanes into the surrounding communities.
Other road projects include: the 9.1km road along Ikot
Ebekpo-Ikot Ebidang road, Onna LGA, Ikot Ekaide-Ikot Okokon Ikot
Ibritam-Ekeffe-Ikot Akpan road, the dualization of 28km Uyo- Oron road down to
the East West road, 6.6km road in Atan Offot, Uyo, 8.5Km Nduetong Oku-Ibiaku
Uruan-Ekit Itam Road with 40m span bridge and a spur in Itu/Uruan LGA, 9km
Mbiaya Uruan –Ita Uruan- Mbiakong Uruan Road with 60m span bridge and a 14.83Km
road in Esit Eket, as well as several others.
HEALTH:
The administration of Mr Udom Emmanuel in an unprecedented
manner has embarked on an aggressive re-positioning of the Health sector in the
State, which has now witnessed a mass rehabilitation and reconstruction of
Hospitals and primary healthcare centres. Before the emergence of the current
government, some health facilities in the State were at a point of near total
collapse, given the decay of infrastructure in them. Mr Emmanuel has since
remodelled and supplied sophisticated medical equipment to many General
hospitals. During the 30th anniversary celebration of the State on 23rd
September, 2017, the Country’s Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, who
personally inaugurated some reconstructed health facilities in Akwa Ibom,
lauded Governor Emmanuel for setting out to meet the health needs of the people
across the State. Some of the sophisticated equipment purchased by the current
administration includes; electric adjustable beds, hoyer body lifters, infant
warmers, digital endoscopy cartography, delivery beds, surgical facilities and
many more. The Emmanuel administration has also made the following achievements
in the health sector:
Awareness campaign on non-communicable diseases: Tremendous
awareness of health issues of hypertension, sickle cell disease, cancer and
diabetes mellitus, has been created among members of the public regarding their
causes, treatment and prevention.
Co-ordination of a twenty–one a-21-day (11th – 30th, January,
2016) free eye care and treatment programme with MTN Foundation at Ibom Hall,
during which 15,350 (fifteen thousand, three hundred and fifty) people were
screened for various eye diseases, 1150 eye surgeries performed, and 2000 eye
glasses distributed. Training of fifty (50) health staff comprising medical
doctors, nurses, drivers and porters, on basic life support skills. The
trainees underwent tutorials on emergency response skills. Two Basic Life
support Training (BLST) were imparted on the trainees. Strong participation of
the state in the National Immunization Campaign Days.
Mobile Ambulance Service: This pilot programme operates under a
Memorandum of Understanding between the state’s Ministry of Health and Nestle
Nigeria PLC, and targets pregnant women, and children aged five (5) years and
below.
Approval for training of forty-eight (48) House Officers was
granted by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), and to be handled
at the following institutions: General Hospital, Ikot Ekpene; General Hospital,
Eket; and General Hospital, Oron. These institutions were given provisional
accreditation. It is expected that full accreditation would be granted soonest.
Successful processing of admission of one hundred and fifty
(150) candidates into Schools of Midwifery, and admission of two hundred and
one (201) candidates into the Schools of Nursing for 2015/2016 academic year
respectively. Participation in Nursing and Midwifery Council Final Qualifying
Examinations for General Nurses and Midwives in which Akwa Ibom State scored
100% in both. Matriculation and capping of 2014 in-take Student Nurses.
Provision of Intervention Items and amenities to health
institutions in the State: These include; customized mattresses, pillows and
desk top computers for School of Midwifery, Anua, Uyo; student desks,
customized mattresses and pillows for School of Nursing, Anua, Uyo; Complete
water reticulation for School of Nursing, Ikot Ekpene; Student Desks for School
of Nursing, Eket; customized mattresses, pillows and desktop computers for
School of Midwifery, Ituk Mbang as well as customized mattresses and Pillows
for School of Midwifery, Oron.
The current administration deserves commendation for commencing
payment of Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) to medical and dental
practitioners in its employ State since June 2015.
AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SUFFICIENCY:
This leading sector of the country’s economy is not treated
lightly by the state. The objective is to ensure food sufficiency and security
as well as diversify from petro-dollar to an agro-based economy. To this end,
the Udom Emmanuel administration has achieved the following:
Re-introduction of second planting season for enhanced food
production and sufficiency.
Refurbishment and upgrading of three 10mt/day cassava processing
factories in the 3 Senatorial Districts
Cultivation of 40 hectares of seed multiplication cassava farm
in the Senatorial Districts to provide free stems to farmers.
Distribution of improved oil palm and cocoa seedlings to farmers
in the state.
Extension of technical advisory services to about 350 fish farms
in the State, as well as the cultivation of 300 hectares of cassava under the
FADAMA III+ Financing Programme.
Establishment of Special Cocoa Maintenance Scheme (SCMS) for the
training of farmers and youths on pruning/shade management, under brushing, and
tree care by fumigation, to ensure improvement of yields from 300
kilogram/hectare to 2000kg/ha over 3 years period.
Zoning and mapping of the cocoa producing communities in the
State, and sensitization of cocoa farmers in the 24 cocoa producing local
government areas in the State.
Holding of sensitization programmes for Field Extension Officers
of the Ministry of Agriculture, and those of Akwa Ibom State Agric Development
Programme (AKADEP).
Importation of 1000 bags of special cocoa fertilizers from Ghana
for optimal yield.
Delivery of 1000 bags of special cocoa fertilizers in September
2016.
Distribution of training kits to all participants at practical
field training on cocoa.
Signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Sand Carlos of
Mexico to develop 1000 hectares of cocoa farms and cocoa nursery in the State.
EDUCATION:
Education is at the core of any modern development. Aware of
this reality, government has invested much resources and efforts in ensuring
that education of Akwa Ibom children is given the necessary commitment. The
following are achievements in the subsector:
Workshops on leadership and behavioural ethics for prefects of
public schools and refresher course for public schools Counsellors in the
State.
Free, compulsory and qualitative education policy in public
primary and secondary schools in the state
Collaboration with the Federal Government to implement the Home
Grown School Feeding programme in the State’s public primary schools.
Training of School Inspectors, Education Officers and
Principals, on quality assurance and best practices, in education in
collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education, UNICEF, UNESCO, etc.
Training of officers in Examination and Certification Division
of the Ministry on ICT and computerization of examination results
Training of 30 indigenes of Akwa Ibom State on ICT in India.
Acreditation of courses in the state’s tertiary institutions and
public technical schools.
Training of primary school teachers on effective classroom
management skills, basic classroom teaching methods and techniques, language
communication skills and Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
Organization of a 2-day Advocacy Workshop on Structure and
Effective Implementation of the new Senior Secondary School Curricula in
collaboration with the Nigerian Education Research and Development Council
(NERDC), Abuja.
Payment of Subvention to all School Heads and Principals of
Public Primary and Post-Primary Schools at the rate of N100.00 per pupil and
N300.00 per student per term;
Generation of reliable inputs through reports from Quality
Assurance Inspectors and Evaluators for renovation and rehabilitation of
schools by the Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Co-ordinating Committee;
Procurement and distribution of free exercise books, textbooks
and other educational materials, to public and private schools in key subjects
like Mathematics, English Language and the Sciences;
Payment of examination fees and scholarships to students of Akwa
Ibom State origin in tertiary institutions;
Provision of grants and laptops to Medical and Law Students
respectively;
Revalidation of private schools in the state to ensure
maintenance of standards and quality control, among others.
CONCLUSION:
All told, developing Akwa Ibom and attracting investors to the
State as well as making life better for all, are areas the government under the
leadership of Mr Udom Emmanuel hold very dear. Though not yet uhuru, one can
confidently say that the achievements so far witnessed in these two years are
unprecedented in the history of the State.
However, there is a limit to which falsehood can be deployed
against a people. No matter how well scripted, falsehood will fail in the
presence of the truth. That is the situation of Akwa Ibom State. The impressive
performance of Governor Emmanuel has led to a nationwide appreciation of his
adherence to the tenets of good governance.
People from all walks of life are now gravitating towards Akwa
Ibom State; one of the few oasis of development in the present-day desert of
stagnation. Those who found their way to the State are now enjoying practically
the dividends of democracy in the 'Land Of Promise' despite the meagre
allocations that is coming from the federal purse and funds that are internally
generated.
Now tell me, with all of these achievements in just two years,
why wouldn’t I conclude that, the Captain of Team Akwa Ibom; Mr Udom Emmanuel,
is a governor like no other!
NYONG writes from Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
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