By Yahaya Idris, Abuja
The Special Assistant to the Akwa Ibom State Governor on New Media, Venerable Richard Peters, has declared that Governor Pastor Umo Eno has remained faithful to his campaign promises by delivering people-oriented projects and policies under the administration’s ARISE Agenda blueprint.
Speaking during a Round Table Discussion with Journalists in Abuja, Peters said the governor’s achievements across critical sectors of the economy have demonstrated his commitment to inclusive governance, rural development, infrastructure expansion and economic growth.
According to him, the governor’s cordial working relationship with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, coupled with improved funding, has accelerated project execution across Akwa Ibom State.
Peters highlighted agriculture as one of the administration’s strongest success stories, noting that Governor Eno launched the Oil Palm Tree Crop Revolution aimed at restoring Akwa Ibom’s status as Nigeria’s leading oil palm-producing state.
He disclosed that the government also established an Agricultural Equipment Leasing Company to provide subsidised mechanised farming services to farmers.
“The governor has distributed farm implements, improved seedlings and over N2 billion in agricultural grants, while Ibom Model Farm and Local Government Area farms are currently being developed to boost food production and reduce food prices,” he stated.
The media aide further revealed that the administration approved N7.3 billion for women cooperatives across the state’s 369 wards, representing N20 million per ward, alongside the provision of solar-powered Braithwaite tank boreholes through partnership with GIFA.
On infrastructure, Peters said approximately 1,300 kilometres of roads, alongside about 40 bridges, have either been completed or are under construction across the state.
He added that rural roads, modern markets, model healthcare centres and model primary schools have also been delivered across the 31 local government areas.
In the education sector, Peters said Governor Eno has sustained free and compulsory basic education while ensuring bursaries for tertiary students and grants to state-owned institutions.
He noted that the Akwa Ibom College of Education, Afaha Nsit, has been upgraded into a University of Education.
According to him, the administration has also constructed solar-powered model primary schools equipped with computer laboratories and teachers’ quarters, recruited 1,000 teachers, and commenced the construction of three state-of-the-art model secondary schools—one in each senatorial district.
Speaking on healthcare, Peters said primary healthcare centres have either been completed or are ongoing in all the 31 local government areas, while over 2,854 health workers have been recruited.
He added that more than 200,000 residents have been enrolled in the State Medical Insurance Scheme, while work has commenced on the 350-bed Ibom International Hospital, expected to house 24 specialised departments.
Peters also highlighted the administration’s tourism and economic development initiatives, including the soon-to-be commissioned ARISE Palm Resort, International Convention Centre, Ibom Hotels and ARISE Shopping City Centre.
According to him, the projects are designed to position Akwa Ibom as a leading tourism and investment destination in West Africa.
He described aviation as another major success, citing the commencement of international flights from the newly completed Ibom Air terminal to Accra, Ghana, the acquisition of a CRJ900 Bombardier aircraft and plans to receive an Airbus A220-300 before the end of 2026.
He added that the Aviation Village, Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility, airport hospital, taxiway and perimeter fencing have all been completed.
Peters further disclosed that the administration has paid over N83 billion out of the inherited N111 billion gratuity backlog, while committing to clear the outstanding balance before the end of Governor Eno’s first term.
He also said more than N6 billion has been disbursed in grants to youths and farmers, while thousands of young people have benefited from entrepreneurship training under Ibom-LED and DASAC, receiving N750,000 business start-up grants.
According to him, the newly inaugurated Youth Development Centre in Oron will be replicated across all 31 local government areas.
He further praised the governor’s investment in rural electrification, housing development, the Ibom Deep Seaport project and the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to improve transportation across the state.
Peters maintained that Governor Eno’s administration has remained focused on delivering sustainable development through the ARISE Agenda.