ARISE agenda: Gov. Eno’s three years of transformative leadership

By Solomon Essiet

Just three years into the Golden-Era Administration, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, Governor of Akwa Ibom State, has made visible progress across key sectors of the state’s economy.

Any fair assessment of his administration must therefore examine these achievements sector by sector, especially in relation to the promises captured under the ARISE Agenda.

Workers’ welfare remains one of the strongest pillars of this administration.

The achievements of Governor Eno cannot be properly discussed without placing civil servants and retirees at the centre of the conversation. Under his leadership, workers and pensioners have benefited from the payment of over ₦82 billion in backlog of pensions and gratuities, ₦1.2 billion wardrobe allowance to teachers, the implementation of the ₦80,000 minimum wage, the introduction of the 13th Month Salary known as ENOMBER, the recruitment of over 3,000 workers, and the ongoing recruitment of 2,000 health workers.

These interventions have strengthened public confidence and earned the Governor the reputation of being one of the most worker-friendly leaders Akwa Ibom State has produced.

Road construction has also received bold and consistent attention because of its importance to both urban and rural development. So far, over 1,300 kilometres of roads have been constructed across the 31 Local Government Areas of the state, along with 40 bridges. What makes this remarkable is not only the scale of the work, but also the spread. For the first time, projects are being executed simultaneously across all Local Government Areas within the first tenure of an administration.

Aviation, healthcare, education, and housing have equally received premium attention under Governor Eno. In aviation, the acquisition of four new aircraft for Ibom Air and the approval of international flights for Victor Attah International Airport have given practical meaning to the airport’s international status after many years. In healthcare, the administration has built model healthcare centres across all 31 Local Government Areas, bringing basic healthcare closer to the people. These are not isolated projects; they are part of a deliberate effort to expand access, strengthen service delivery, and position Akwa Ibom for long-term growth.

Housing remains very dear to the Governor’s heart because he believes that every citizen deserves dignity and shelter. In three years, 1,048 housing units have been delivered, ranging from estate projects to ARISE Compassionate Homes built for vulnerable persons across wards in the state. In education, the recent release of ₦2.6 billion for 121 SUBEB projects further shows the administration’s commitment to improving learning environments for Akwa Ibom children.

Maritime development, tourism, sports, and transportation are also being repositioned as important drivers of the state’s economy.

The Oron terminal, the expected deployment of 50 CNG mass transit buses, and other transport-linked investments are designed to improve movement, open up economic opportunities, and support tourism.

In sports, the construction of the first Sports Academy in Akwa Ibom State, located in Eket, is another major step. It reflects the Governor’s belief that sports can develop talent, create opportunity, and project the state positively.

Security, youth development, agriculture, and investment have also received serious attention under the transformative leadership of Pastor Umo Bassey Eno.

On security, the creation of a standalone Ministry of Internal Security and Waterways shows the seriousness with which the administration is confronting security challenges. The donation of 14 gunboats and other critical security assets further demonstrates the Governor’s commitment to protecting lives, securing waterways, and sustaining a peaceful economy.

Governor Eno has also shown that youth development is not a slogan under his administration. On Tuesday, May 26, 2026, he commissioned one of the youth development centres in the state, while others are at various stages of completion.

The plan is to provide youth development centres across the Local Government Areas, bringing ICT, skills training, and innovation opportunities closer to young people in their communities.

This approach gives practical expression to the Governor’s belief that development must reach the people where they live.

Agriculture, which is the first component of the ARISE Agenda, has enjoyed renewed attention in the last three years.

The ongoing construction of the Ibom Model Farm, the completion of the Equipment Leasing Company, the distribution of farm inputs, the ARISE Home Farm Scheme, and the recent launch of the Tree Crops Revolution all point to a government determined to restore agriculture as a major source of wealth and food security. With these initiatives, Akwa Ibom is gradually being positioned for an agricultural breakthrough.

Above all, the peace currently enjoyed in Akwa Ibom State remains one of the greatest foundations of its progress. In furtherance of this, Governor Eno launched the Security Trust Fund, with key security stakeholders from across the country in attendance.

The initiative marked an important step in mobilising resources, strengthening security infrastructure, and providing the manpower required to meet the security needs of a growing state.

Across the country and beyond, observers continue to acknowledge that Governor Umo Eno has performed creditably within the first three years of his administration. His achievements across workers’ welfare, infrastructure, healthcare, education, housing, agriculture, youth development, transportation, sports, tourism, security, and investment show a clear pattern of purposeful leadership. With many life-changing projects still ongoing, many believe that he deserves a second term in office to consolidate the gains already recorded and complete the vision he has started.

Arise, that same God.

Essiet, ACIA
Special Assistant on New Media to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State