Akwa Ibom @ 37: Developmental indices from Attah, Akpabio, Udom, Umo Eno

Emmanuel Nicholas

Akwa Ibom State has been blessed with visionary leaders who have significantly contributed to its development.
These leaders have implemented progressive policies and initiatives that prioritize infrastructure, education, and healthcare, fostering economic growth and social welfare.

Their commitment to transparency and accountability has built public trust and encouraged people participation. Through strategic investments and partnerships, they have successfully attracted businesses and improved living standards, positioning Akwa Ibom as a model for development in Nigeria.

Their leadership has not only accelerated progress but also inspired a sense of unity and purpose among the state’s residents.

Akwa Ibom State was established on September 23, 1987, following nearly four decades of persistent advocacy, Akwa Ibom’s creation by the Military Administration of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida was seen as a rectification, as the region had been overlooked in previous state formation .

Over the past thirty-seven years, the leadership of the state has transitioned from six Military Administrators—Tunde Ogbeha, Godwin Abbe, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, Yakubu Bako, Joseph Adeusi, and John Ebiye—to a succession of democratic governors. These include Obong Akpan Isemin, Obong (Arc) Victor Attah, Chief Godswill Akpabio, Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, and the current governor, Pastor Umo Eno.

As the then Lt. Col. Tunde Ogbeha got the machinery of government moving from the inside of pockets of buildings donated by some patriotic and kind-hearted persons, his words rang a bell: “I urge you to be dreamers; dreamer of broad, tarred and lighted streets in our towns and cities. Dreamers of industrial estates dotting all over our country-side; dreamers of blooming economy where our children will receive qualitative education and full employment there after”.

From the first set of military leaders in the state, the pace of development witnessed brought joy and happiness. They all one way or the other fast-tracked a revolution in the State.

During the military era, one military leader distinguished himself as a visionary: he was the late Wing Commander Idongesit Nkanga. He constructed the State Secretariat along with numerous other infrastructural projects that he initiated.

As things stand now, Akwa Ibom is rapidly on the rise to the top rung of Nigeria’s social and economic ladder.

The first leg of the journey started from the moment Babangida decided to create only Akwa Ibom and Katsina States. The second leg did not start until the dawn of democracy in 1999 when Obong Victor Attah was elected.

Obong Attah is one of the most respected political leaders in the state and this is not unrelated to his exceptional contributions to the development of the state and involvement in both local and national affairs. Two things Attah did, contributed to the rise of the state from the backwaters to Olympian heights.

The first was the struggle for resource control and payment of the 13 per cent derivation based on oil royalties mined on the Continental Shelf, aside onshore. Today, the state is the largest revenue earner from derivation royalties. This enabled it to commence the ambitious developmental strides.

Besides the resource control war, which won him accolades like ‘Apostle and/or Advocate of Resource Control,’ what really drew him to the people was that his administration nurtured the unity existing today among the different ethnic blocs in the state. For that reason,

Obong Attah is perceived by many as a detribalized, generous, accommodating, principled and visionary leader, who laid the solid foundation for the physical and economic development of the state; as well as initiated the Ibom International Airport, Le’ Meridien Hotel and Golf Course, Ibom Power Plant (IPP), Akwa Ibom State University of Science and Technology now Akwa Ibom State Universit amongst other projects.

The change of baton from Attah to Akpabio wasn’t smooth; yet Akpabio continued from where his predecessor stopped, striving to complete all on-going projects his administration inherited. Thus, when the State was 25 – a silver jubilee; the celebration was worth it because the years of existence, were partially buried in the womb of five years of uncommon transformation then heralded by the Akpabio administration.

And by 2012 and beyond, Flyovers over Uyo, Pipe-jacking underground drainage, Treasury Headquarters, Akwa Ibom International Airport Now Victor Attah International Air Port , Ibom Power Plant (IPP), a 30,000-seat ultra-modern Olympic-sized Stadium, Now Godwill Akpabio International Stadium , Ibom E-Library, Information Centre, Specialist Hospital at Ekim Itam; Oxygen Plant at General Hospital, Ikot Ekpene, Cottage Hospitals in Essien Udim, Ibeno, Ukanafun, Eastern Obolo and Ika; Governor’s Lodge Complex; College of Health Sciences, Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Galleria,Four Point by Sheraton ,Daulized many Roads amongst others had radically transformed and changed the aesthetics and facial landscape of the state.

Post-1999, every administration ensured the provision of a conducive learning environment through massive rehabilitation and reconstruction of schools’ blocks, provision of Science and Laboratory equipment, construction of hostels and supply of text books, desks etc.; and an educational policy of free and compulsory education up to secondary school level for indigenes and residents aside yearly Payment of SSCE/NABTEB fees for students.

Today, various major roads, especially federal roads that were in very deplorable conditions have given way to a network of high quality, well-constructed, paved and asphalted roads across the State; modern digital traffic lights, urban renewal and regeneration projects.

In Agriculture, government has lived up to the statutory responsibility of providing the needed enabling environment to ensure availability of adequate and affordable food for food security, supply of agro-based raw materials for industry, generation of employment, creation of wealth and economic emancipation of the people.

Akwa Ibom State has been so blessed with leaders who put the people first in the scheme of things through provision of enduring projects that have changed the landscape. The approach to governance has been bold, decisive, and methodical. They have left no one in doubt that they were/are not happy with the State of Affairs that they met and in the process decided to embark on non-parallel development projects that have changed the face of the entire State.

In some States we have situations likened to Iraq, under Saddam Hussein – a one man’s show, where he had an exclusive right to the state and the citizens had none; a situation where he ruled Iraq as if the country was a personal estate and the citizens were mere tenants; a situation where all governmental functionaries, institutions, and apparatuses emanated and revolved around him; and the Iraqis who benefited most were his children, surrogates, and attendants; a situation where Iraqi money was basically Saddam Hussein’s money and he could take as much as possible without any accountability to the Iraqi people.

But Akwa Ibom State has generally speaking over time been blessed with many patriotic leaders. Leaders who formed political, military, and economic alliances that were/are very constructive to the security of their people. Leaders who willingly attracted foreign investors to develop the State based on the available resources.

Leaders who care about their own citizens and the future of the unborn generations. Leaders who were/are eager to enrich/empower the people. Leaders who directly and indirectly accept responsibility for the living conditions of the people.

Leaders who ensure that Akwa Ibom civil servants should not starve in the face of an extensive natural resources, even as some of their colleague Governors are owing salaries of five months or more.

The State has had a handful of leaders with well-thought out plans to develop the economy.

Leaders who spend more time working strategically in a systematic way to develop the State with the resources at their disposal. Leaders who are equipped with intellectual creativity, courage and device of alternative political and economic means in development. Leaders who adopt unworkable and inappropriate “development” models that do not unnecessarily drain the resources and manpower.

We are living in a time and age where we expect ‘development’ (socio-economic, political, etc.) to be the rule and reject the lack of development to be served as dinner. The long road to development in the State has been very risky. And we cannot say that there haven’t been times and instances where policies are short-sighted, counter-productive, and in pursuit of narrow donor-interests. The struggle has been changing the content of the pressure for good governance in the direction of the best possible measures.

At the end of the day, the benefits of the blessed leadership have favoured development. Leadership has attempted to standardize by blending to a norm and acclimating to the status quo of development strides.

Describing the development rate in AKS at 37 one would say: It has been nuanced, contextual, collaborative, fluid, and above all else, actionable.

It has occurred beyond the norm. It has been focused on technique/content/curriculum of the people. It has tested courage. It has trained on the present, while focusing on the future. It has generally adhered to global standards while maximizing potential. It has been both transactional and transformational.

And given the rapid pace of change in today’s workplace where professional development is a lifelong process, it has focused on maintenance, growth, the role and indoctrinated as well as educated the people. Has the housemaid virus not been permanently treated?

Is there any Akwa Ibomite who still wants to be a house maid? None. And this is because development has catalyzed innovation; enriched the culture; encouraged compliance; emphasized performance and focused on efficiency, effectiveness, problems, solutions and reporting lines. Influence has been expanded. People hitherto placed in a box have been mechanically-trained and intellectually-freed from the box with a right to identify the knowns and explore the unknowns.

The people are no longer robotic or static thinkers. They have been moved beyond their comfort zones. That is infinite development. And it is so because the leaders at various times sought for an enterprising people that is growing and evolving just as the leadership itself.

Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel (a banker-turned-politician from Eket Senatorial District)) as the fourth democratically-elected governor of the State came in with the Dakakada PYLOSOPHY; a Spiritual Rebirth, moral transformation and reorientation campaign officially launched during the State’s 28th anniversary in September 2015. To consolidate on the achievements of the past administration and sustain superior performance aimed at moving the State to the next level,

He took superlative steps to trudge the State to higher heights. He anchors his Divine Mandate on a five-point agenda, namely: job creation, poverty alleviation, wealth creation, economic and political inclusion as well as infrastructural consolidation and expansion, and is working assiduously to sustain superior performance and achieve sustainable development.

In no time, Udom Emmanuel set an enviable record of performance to the admiration of many. In order to galvanize technical and professionals inputs as well as realize his lofty objectives.

He constituted Technical Committees on the actualization of Ibom Deep Seaport; Foreign Direct Investments; Agriculture and Food Sufficiency, amongst others.

The administration started work in health care sector at St. Luke’s Hospital, Anua, Uyo, from ravaging gully erosion and also built new blocks to enhance health-care delivery in the State.
Built 300 beds Isolation center , with oxygen plant at Ituk Mbang, and built over ten general hospitals , All these Hospitals were equipped with modern equipment like

Surgical Lights ,Electrosurgical Units, Blanket, Surgical Tables, EKG/ECG Machines, Sterilizers, Patient Monitors, Anesthesia Machine , Defibrillators Hospital Stretchers, bedpan,cannula , Ventilators, Dialysis machines ,Xrays machines ,movable hospital beds and many more .

In the industrial sector, his administration had attracted over 20 industries in the State and one that was moribund revived to its functional State . The industries are Jubilee Syringe , Metering and Solution manufacturing Ltd , Kings Flour Mill , St Gabriel Coconut Refinery, Pencil and tooth pick factory , Plastic and packaging factory , Lion Plywood and Timbers, Agricom Rice Mill, Green World Fertiliser Blending plant, three garri Mills , Automobile Plant, Peacock Paint LTD , Palm Kernel Oil Processing Plant, Rave Refinery – Odio , Petrol- Chemical Refinery in Eastern Obolo with Fertilzer company among others .

He ensure Ibom Deep Sea Port was fully been licenced for construction and operation by Federal Government of Nigeria and secured free Oil and Gas free trade Zone the State has also been certified .

In the eight years of his administration , over 2700Km of roads ,58 bridges and several infrastructures have been constructed across the State.

Notable among them are dualization of 19.7km Uyo-Etinan Road, 39.4km Etinan-Ndon Eyo Road with 2No. Bridges and Spur; 19km Uyo- Ikot Ekpene Road , Etinan – Eket Dualization , 19km Eket-Ibeno Road, the first 12 lanes Road, the Dualization of 3rd Ring Road, Dualization of 4.3 Km 2nd Ring Road, completion of Etebi Ewang bridge , 7.3km Ebekpo-Ikot Ebidang Road; Dualization of Eket-Ibeno Road; Dualization of Airport Road into ten lanes, Nto Edino Ekwarazu Road, Obotme – Arochukwu Road, Urban Renewal Projects within Eket Township; this includes Dualization and remoldeling with flood control, completion of Outfalls and Urban Roads in Oron; Second Runway at the Akwa Ibom International Airport; three collapsed bridges and internal roads in Obot Akara LGA;
In the history of Akwa Ibom State no Governor has constructed more internal roads within Uyo as his administration, over 156 streets was constructed in Uyo metropolis.

Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel constructed the 21 storey office complex, Dakkada Secretariat, international worship center and new Governor’s resident in Lagos.

In power generation Governor Udom constructed Power Sub-Station, Edet Akpan Avenue, Uyo; Power Sub -Station Ekim, Power Sub Station – Air Port among others

It is worthy of note that Udom Emmanuel’s administration also took aviation business in Akwa Ibom State beyond the building of an Airport and record the great feat of being the first State in Nigeria to own and operate an Airline business .

Ibom Air with 6 Aircrafts in the first hundred days of operation had recorded well over fifty thousand passengers , from the calculations of economists , the Airline made well over 1billion naira in just 100 days.

IbomAir is the best Airline in Nigeria and rank among the first five Airline in West Africa

The success story of Akwa Ibom State could not have been, without the able-leadership of the pragmatic Governors at various stages and the supportive role of members of the State Executive Council and other key members of the administration at each time.

The entrance of Pastor Umo Eno has changed the dynamics of politics in Akwa Ibom State because of his humility and spirit of inclusivity. Under his leadership, he sees all persons in Akwa Ibom State as one indivisible entity, regardless of political affiliation or tribal lines.

The government launched a blueprint known as the ‘ARISE AGENDA,’ focusing on agricultural expansion for food security, rural development, educational progress, economic enhancement, tourism growth, entrepreneurial advancement, and support for the most impoverished people and communities.

Governor Umo Eno’s model of leadership diminishes the interests of political parties and exalts the collective interest of Akwa Ibom State above any personal ambitions.

In this golden era, there is peace, unity, and togetherness in Akwa Ibom State. This further energizes the culture of teamwork, leading both the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party, and the opposition party to collaborate for the purpose of Akwa Ibom’s development.

In just one year and six months, Pastor Umo Eno has distinguished himself as a leader who is particularly compassionate toward the welfare of workers, retirees, the poorest of the poor, women, elders, and youth.

His governance has positively impacted every stratum of life within the state, and he has initiated social welfare programmes to lift the poorest out of poverty and help them become self-sufficient.

The state was facing a backlog of gratuities owed to retirees and civil servants, amounting to over sixty-three billion Naira. In just one year and five months, Governor Umo Eno has paid 35.3 billion Naira, which is more than half of the total entitlements that the state owed to both serving civil servants and retirees.

He has also made plans to pay off these entitlements during his four years in office.

On the poorest, Governor Umo Eno
The poorest of the poor, who were either homeless or living in houses not suitable for human habitation, have received two well-furnished bungalows with solar-powered potable water.

So far, one hundred and fifty-two homes have been built, and 37 have been handed over to the beneficiaries. These free homes for the poor come with half a million Naira in empowerment funds to enable beneficiaries to start a business of their choice.

Governor Umo Eno has been distributing food to the poorest residents across all 3,663 villages in Akwa Ibom State through the bulk purchasing agency.

Regarding infrastructure, Governor Umo Eno has initiated major road construction projects that will etch his name in the sands of time. These include the 13.5 km Uyo-Okobo dualization, the 13.3 km Okobo-Oron dualization with two bridges, the dualization of 7.6 km of the completion part of the third ring road that connects Idoro Road across Ibiono and ends in Ikono Local Government by Uyo-Ikot Ekpene Road, the dualization of Uyo Village with two hanging bridges to eliminate the steep hills, and the dualization of the 13.1 km Ibom Deep Sea Port access road in Mbo Local Government Area.

Governor Umo Bassey Eno has awarded 41 new road projects and is funding over 78 road projects inherited from the previous administration.

As the saying goes, a productive, development-driven economy is one in which successive governments recognize that the continuation of productive visions leads to more sustainable development.

Governor Umo Eno inherited the vision for IbomAir, which has elevated the name of the state. In under a year, he has funded and added two new aircraft to the fleet.

About three weeks after the state government budgeted funds for the purchase of two Bombardier aircraft, efforts are being made to create more regional routes for IbomAir.

To deepen aviation development in Akwa Ibom State, he is building a new runway and also funding the taxiway. Additionally, he is negotiating with aircraft manufacturers for the establishment of a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility.
Governor Umo is planning to build an aviation village for the workers, which includes estates, schools, markets, and shopping malls.

Under education, Governor Umo Eno is building model schools across the entire Akwa Ibom State that can compete with any public school abroad. The first to be completed are the CKS and Ewet model schools.

To energize the healthcare sector, the governor is building health centers across all the wards in the state; so far, over ten have been completed.

The governor of Akwa Ibom State is constructing a 21-story tower in Lagos and a five-star hotel in Abuja to increase the state’s internally generated revenue, as he does not wish to see any property owned by the Akwa Ibom State Government lying in ruins.

Governor Umo Eno has initiated a program to complete the Ibom Tropicana Hotels and Conference Centre in his drive to provide the state with more facilities to boost Internal Generation Revenue (IGR).

In agriculture, he has established a model farm on 40 hectares of land in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, where over five thousand youths will be employed.

Coming from the private sector, he understands that small businesses are the drivers of a progressive economy. He has empowered over five thousand young entrepreneurs with funds ranging from one million, five hundred thousand, and two hundred fifty thousand Naira.

He has also released two billion Naira as grants to traders in the three senatorial districts of Akwa Ibom State.

In under a year, Governor Umo Eno has shown commitment to the people of Akwa Ibom State. He respects elders, values women, and encourages the youth to become better members of society.

His leadership is outstanding because he has united the entire Akwa Ibom State and consults all people in the development process of the state.