Gov. Umo Eno.
By Anietie Akpan
As we usher in the new year, the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno has reiterated his administration’s commitment to peace and the development of the state.
In this new year, anchored on our faith in God, he said, “we will continue to deepen the peace we are enjoying in Akwa Ibom State. Peace remains the foundation of growth and the reason our development efforts continue to yield great results”.
Governor Eno who said this in his 17 paragraph new year address to the state, promised that his government, “will continue to invest strongly in agriculture to ensure food security. This year, we will launch our Tree Crop Revolution to empower farmers across all Local Government Areas to create generational wealth and strengthen our rural economy.
“Rural development will remain our priority. The one-project-per-local-government initiative which we had long gone past will be intensified, and all ongoing projects will be completed with strict accountability”.
To ensure accountability, he announced that the Treasury Single Account (TSA) for the payment of all Government Revenues “takes effect from today, January 1st 2026 and all Ministries, Departments and Agencies are expected to comply with the circular earlier issued by the Secretary to the State Government detailing modalities for its implementation and requisite administrative outlays.
“The TSA regime will help consolidate our revenue and ensure that expenditures are run from one source as approved in our 2026 budget. The era of MDAs generating and spending funds outside the TSA is over. I must also say that there will be consequences for defaulters”.
With over 1000 kilometres of roads either completed or ongoing and, the Governor said, “our target is to ensure that the people feel the impact of government across the 31 local government areas of our State. Let me remind us that new projects scheduled for execution this year are harvested from NEEDS Documents received during last year’s Townhall Meetings across the Ten federal constituencies We will intensify our drive as contractors have returned to work on their sites”.
In education and healthcare, “we are delivering results. We are constructing model primary schools and model healthcare centres across the State. The Ukanafun General Hospital has been commissioned, and work has commenced on the 350 bed Ibom International Hospital, alongside the ongoing recruitment of healthcare workers”.
He promised that investment in Tourism will continue to drive the state’s economic diversification moves as “in this new year, we will commission the ARISE Palm Resort, advance work on the 5,000-capacity Ibom International Convention Centre, complete and commission the 200-bed Ibom Hotels, Uyo, progress work on the ARISE Shopping City, complete the rehabilitation of the Ibom Hotels and Golf Resort. We will progress work on the iconic State Broadcasting Corporation on Dominic Utuk Avenue”.
He said compassion “remains central to our governance blueprint. We will build more ARISE Compassionate Homes beyond the 335 already delivered and continue to reduce the N112 billion inherited gratuity backlog, having paid over ₦76.6 billion so far”.
On security, Eno thanked the security agencies for the collaborative work they are doing “in keeping our State safe and secure. We will continue to work closely with them as security of the citizens is the first responsibility of government. We will spare nothing to ensure that our State remains safe and secure”.
While thanking President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for approving the upgrade of the Victor Attah Airport, to an international status and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Chief Festus Keyamo,SAN, for all his support, he said “we are hopeful to commence international operations at the airport from April. The MRO facility, taxiway, aviation village and the entire aviation ecosystem will come into full operation this year.
“The Ibom Deep Seaport project is on course and we are finalizing documentation and following due process for the implementation of the project”.
As the political season approaches, Eno urged all leaders and citizens to reject violence and divisionary tendencies. “Let us embrace politics of ideas, unity and the common good”.
