EXCERPTS FROM THE STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING OF WEDNESDAY, 2ND APRIL, 2025

The Akwa Ibom State Executive Council today, April 2nd , 2025 held its fourth meeting since reconstitution.

The Meeting was presided over by the Governor in Council, His Excellency Pastor Umo Eno, Ph.D with the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, Secretary to the State Government, Head of Civil Service, Executive Assistant and Chief Delivery Advisor, as well as Commissioners and Special Advisers in attendance.

The Executive Council after due consideration of Memos and deliberation on issues brought before it, took decisions and made the following resolutions:

1. The Governor in Council granted approval for the Office of the Secretary to the State Government to exercise supervisory role over the Akwa Ibom State Infrastructure and Asset Management and Maintenance Agency, with effect from today, April 2, 2025. This decision followed a memo brought before Council by the Head of the Civil Service on the importance and strategic nature of the Agency and need to provide effective oversight on its operations for efficiency and effectiveness.

2. Following a memo also presented by the Head of Civil Service and in pursuant to the directive of His Excellency the Governor for the recruitment of Safety Officers into the Akwa Ibom State Public Service and issuance of Establishment Circular No.1 of 2024, for the domestication of Federal Circular on the creation of Occupational Safety Officers Cadre in the Public Service, Council approved the establishment of the Department of Occupational Safety in the Akwa Ibom State Public Service, to be headed by a Permanent Secretary under the Office of the Head of Civil Service.

3. Following complaints received from various communities in the oil-bearing part of the State, particularly the area of operations of the Sterling Global, the State Executive Council after due consideration and review, directed that the oil company to immediately revert and limit its operations within the 1000 hectares of land earlier allocated to them and the 700 hectares buffer zone.

Council therefore directed that the company must stop any further encroachment or closing of any creek in the state and directed the Ministry of Lands to take appropriate actions to ensure the determination of all statuses as regards the approvals given, to ensure that they operate within the confines of the Law.

4. The Executive Council, pursuant to the Agriculture and Food Sufficiency program of the ARISE Agenda, inaugurated the Akwa Ibom State Agriculture and Food Security Committee.
The eight-member committee under the Chairmanship of Prof. Okon Ansa, has as members, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Offiong Offor, Prof. Trenchard Ibia, Prof. Elizabeth Ebukiba, Dr. Etemudo Udongo, Ambassador Alphonsus Inyang and Pastor Godwin Ukwat, while Mr. Ofonbuk Nelson will serve as Secretary.

The Committee was charged to design data based food production and processing system to ensure food availability through adequate food stock and feedstock for farmers in the State as enshrined in the ARISE Agenda as envisioned by the Governor.

5. Council also took presentations from various ministries on their plans, projects and short term goals and provided pathways to improved service delivery.

Hon. Aniekan Umanah
Commissioner for Information
02/04/2025

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Tinubu’s second term assured – Akpabio

Senate President Godswill Akpabio says President Bola Ahmed Tinubu can rest assured that his second term in office is guaranteed, notwithstanding the ongoing plot by the opposition to unseat him in the 2027 poll.

Speaking during the special Iftar/Lent dinner organized by the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) aimed at strengthening fellowship and deepening bonds of unity among governors, National Assembly members, ministers, top government functionaries, and the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja on Wednesday night, he expressed optimism that the APC would also sweep more elective seats across the country in the 2027 poll.

Applauding the Governor Hope Uzodinma-led PGF for organizing the event, he called on party stalwarts across the country to work together to achieve the objective.

He said: “Can we say amen! We will offer prayers for our party, that yes, indeed, victory shall be ours in 2027. Can we say a loud amen! And we will also pray for Mr. President that his second term is assured. Can we shout a loud amen!

"So, for the party, our governors, you will grow in numbers, you will grow in numbers. On our part in the parliament, ours is to continue to add the numbers to you. We just recently sent one of our own in the Senate to go and take care of Edo State. Is that not a good thing?”

Uzodinma remarked that the occasion allows party stalwarts to pray, reason, and work together in the task of nation-building, adding that all hands must be on deck to ensure the victory of the APC in the 2027 poll.

“Because we practice partisan democracy, and because we produce the government, we must take ownership of the government no matter where we are and where we sit. The success of the government is our collective success. The failure of the government is our collective failure. And the government is like a product,” he noted.

“And all of us are marketing officers that must market this product. So the whole idea behind this… is to once more have a platform to appreciate ourselves, to celebrate our own, because the government is our own.

“So, as we work towards a more prosperous Nigeria, as we confront the challenges of leadership and governance, it is like a sweet and sour soup. Sometimes it is sweet, sometimes it looks bitter and sour, but at the end of the day, it is a food we must all eat.”

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Chief Wale Edun, maintained that remarkable progress has been achieved due to the bold and courageous decisions taken by the President Tinubu-led administration.

The Minister argued that the drop in the inflation rate and the reduction in the cost of living among Nigerians speak volumes of the progress recorded by the President Tinubu-led administration.

According to him, we are all living it. Inflation is down, food prices are coming down, energy prices are coming down, the exchange rate is stable.

He added, “Those are the things that affect the cost of living that people are feeling. There are other figures and metrics that are behind the scenes. But what matters is how people are feeling, how it is impacting them. And that is why Mr. President continues to make every effort to intervene, particularly on behalf of the poor and the most vulnerable.

“For coming together, Muslim brothers and sisters observing Ramadan, Christian brothers and sisters observing Lent. In brotherhood and in sisterhood, we stand. God will keep us strong, make our party strong, and help us to support, encourage, and work with President Tinubu to make Nigeria strong, make Nigeria great.”

Among the dignitaries at the event were the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, Governors Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Monday Okpebholo, Francis Nwifuru, former Governor Yahaya Bello, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Benjamin Kalu, the House Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, 36 states and FCT chairmen of the party, and members of the Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje-led National Working Committee (NWC).

*EXCERPTS OF THE AKWA IBOM STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 26TH MARCH, 2025*

The meeting presided over by His Excellency, the Governor-in-Council, Pastor Umo Eno, and attended by the Deputy Governor, Sen. Akon Eyakenyi, Secretary to the State Government, Head of the Civil Service, the Executive Assistant/Chief Delivery Advisor, All Commissioners, and Special Advisers, commenced at about 12pm.

After extensive deliberations, some key resolutions reached were as follows:

1. The Executive Council ratified and approved the implementation of a modern City Bus transportation system for Uyo metropolis. The project will provide safe, reliable and eco-friendly bus service that will enhance public transportation and accessibility, while driving socioeconomic development to improve the quality of life for citizens.

2. Council also approved the refurbishment and renovation of the Ibom Hotels and Golf Resort, to restore its lost glory. This will involve a total overhaul of furniture, electrical, mechanical components of its appurtenances to give a completely new experience.

3. A request was also brought before Council for the extension of the Julius Berger contract for the maintenance of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium to ensure the facility maintains its standard as Nigeria’s best and home for the Super Eagles.

4. The Executive Council reviewed the report brought before it on the status of the Eket International market and directed the Inter-ministerial Committee to thoroughly analyze the project, its status and all of the issues surrounding it and submit its report within one month to ensure that the project is brought alive in the interest of the people.

5. EXCO also considered and deliberated on ministerial reports from several ministries, to ensure their short term programmes and plans align with the ARISE Agenda and follow through implementation timelines.

6. Council also approved commencement of pensioners verification exercise from the 1st of April, 2025 so that the State can have a clean pensions record and continue the process of seamless payment of pensions to beneficiaries.

7. In line with the provisions of the Road Traffic Law, cap 115 of Akwa Ibom State 2001 and Akwa Ibom State Transport Regulation of 2022, the Executive Council considered the current menace and issues associated with motorcycles and tricycles operations in the State Capital and directed a strict implementation of the prohibition order on motorcycles in every part of Uyo metropolis.

On this, Council also reaffirmed the prohibition of tricycles in some sections of the metropolis, such as Wellington Bassey Way and four other roads including Abak road by Nsentip street up to Ibom Plaza, Aka road by Etuk Street before the plaza, Ikot Ekpene road by Udi street up to the plaza and Oron road by Okokon Etuk Street to the plaza area.

His Excellency, the Governor in Council has therefore directed the Ministries of Transportation; Internal Security and security agencies to ensure strict compliance to enable government curb criminality and the menace experienced lately.

8. Council also acknowledged the hosting of the Niger Delta Sports Festival in Uyo and commended the Niger Delta Development Commission for bringing the event to Akwa Ibom State, while calling on the people to come out en-masse and support the event to ensure success.

The meeting ended at about 6:30pm.

Rt. Hon. Aniekan Umanah
Commissioner for Information, AKS
26/03/2025

Happy Wednesday ppl #vibes #danloader [AAfulani]

Happy Wednesday guys