Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, says his administration has paid more than ₦98 billion out of the approximately ₦111 billion in inherited gratuities and other outstanding emoluments, while continuing investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture and youth development.
Eno disclosed this in a state broadcast marking the 39th anniversary of Akwa Ibom, highlighting the payments and development projects as key components of his administration’s efforts to translate the ARISE Agenda into tangible benefits for residents.
The governor said clearing the inherited obligations was not simply a financial commitment but an effort to restore the dignity of retirees and provide relief to their families.
“Of the approximately ₦111 billion in gratuities and other emoluments inherited, more than ₦98 billion have been paid by our administration to date. These are not merely financial figures.
“Behind every payment is a family. Behind every home is a human story. Behind every intervention is a citizen whose dignity matters,” he said.
On infrastructure, Eno said the administration had undertaken, commissioned or continued work on more than 1,500 kilometres of roads, including 43 bridges, since May 29, 2023.
“These are not simply kilometres of asphalt. Every road means a community brought closer. A farmer brought closer to the market. A child brought closer to school. A patient brought closer to healthcare. An investor brought closer to opportunity,” he said.
He said infrastructure development had been deliberately extended to rural communities, stressing that no community was too remote to receive government attention.
On education, Eno said the state had maintained free and compulsory education at the primary and secondary levels, disbursed ₦1.69 billion in bursaries and recruited 3,000 teachers, with approval given for further recruitment.
He also said efforts were underway to transform the Akwa Ibom College of Education, Afaha Nsit, into a university of education.
“The greatest resource of Akwa Ibom is not beneath our soil. It is within our people. Our children are our greatest investment. Their education is our most enduring infrastructure,” the governor said.
On healthcare, Eno said 258,000 people, including elderly residents, had enrolled in the state’s health insurance scheme, while all 31 local government areas had ambulance services to respond to medical emergencies.
He added that more than 4,000 young people had received training through IBOM-LED and Dasac, with grants totalling over ₦2 billion disbursed. A further 1,700 farmers had benefited from grants under the state’s agricultural development initiatives.
Looking ahead, Eno said the next phase of the ARISE Agenda would focus more strongly on industrialisation, agro-industrialisation, enterprise development, job creation, tourism and the knowledge economy.
“Our task is to move from infrastructure to industrialisation. From agriculture to agro-industrialisation. From skills to enterprise. From enterprise to jobs,” he said.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the Ibom Deep Seaport, electricity-sector reforms, Ibom Air and tourism infrastructure as part of efforts to attract investment and create more economic opportunities.
He also urged residents to protect the state’s peace and unity, stressing that its continued development required collective responsibility.
“The Akwa Ibom of tomorrow is therefore a shared responsibility,” Eno said.
The governor congratulated Akwa Ibom people at home and in the Diaspora on the state’s 39th anniversary and called for sustained collective commitment to its development.
