EXCERPTS FROM THE AKWA IBOM STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, 27 JULY 2026, AT THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, GOVERNOR’S OFFICE, UYO

EXCERPTS FROM THE AKWA IBOM STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, 27 JULY 2026, AT THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, GOVERNOR’S OFFICE, UYO

The Akwa Ibom State Executive Council held its regular meeting on Monday, 27 July 2026, at the Executive Council Chambers, Governor’s Office, Uyo, with His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, PhD, Governor of Akwa Ibom State, presiding.

In his opening remarks, the Governor welcomed members to the meeting and thanked God for His faithfulness upon the administration. He noted that the Executive Council meeting was convened shortly after the successful conclusion of the two-day Delivery Meeting, which provided an opportunity to review the implementation of government projects and programmes and assess progress in delivering dividends of good governance to the people.

The Governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the effective implementation of the ARISE Agenda across all sectors and charged members of the Executive Council to remain focused, dedicated, and steadfast in delivering impactful, people-centred governance for the continued development of Akwa Ibom State.

RESOLUTIONS

The Executive Council considered several reports and memoranda and resolved as follows:

1. Council considered a memorandum presented by the Honourable Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning on the implementation of an Economic Empowerment Programme for youths, women, traders, farmers, transport operators, and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across the thirty-one (31) Local Government Areas of the State.

Council approved the release of the sum of Thirty-One Billion Naira (₦31,000,000,000.00), as provided in the 2026 Approved Budget, for the implementation of the programme at ₦1 billion per Local Government Area.

The programme comprises Youth Skills Acquisition, Training and Starter Packs; Women Cooperative Business Support; Traders Business Grants; Agricultural Support and Farm Inputs; SME Development and Enterprise Growth; and the Transport Empowerment Scheme.

The initiative is aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, job creation, poverty reduction, agricultural productivity, business growth, and inclusive economic development through skills acquisition, grants, enterprise support, farm inputs, and the distribution of productive assets such as tricycles to qualified beneficiaries across the State.

Council noted that the programme is expected to benefit a total of 165,912 persons.

The Governor-in-Council constituted a Committee, headed by the Secretary to the State Government, to work out modalities for the implementation and distribution of the intervention and report back to the Executive Council.

2. Council received a briefing from the Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties on the forthcoming official visit of the President to Akwa Ibom State and the planned thirty (30)-day commissioning of thirty-nine (39) completed projects across the State to commemorate the 39th anniversary of the creation of Akwa Ibom State.

Council noted that the President is scheduled to commission strategic projects, including the New Terminal Building, Airport Hospital, Aviation Village, the 14.5-kilometre Nsit Atai–Okobo Road, the Dualization of Ring Road 3, the Command and Control Centre, AkwaGIS, the State Secretariat Annex, and the ARISE Palm Resort.

The Governor-in-Council directed all relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure seamless coordination and adequate preparations for the successful hosting of the President and the commissioning exercise.

3. Council received a report from the Special Adviser to the Governor on Legislative Matters on the status of Executive Bills before the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. Council noted that all twelve (12) Executive Bills had been duly considered and passed by the House.

Accordingly, the Governor-in-Council approved that the Speaker and the leadership of the House of Assembly be invited to the Executive Council meeting on Tuesday, 28 July 2026, for the signing into law of the Bills.

4. Council received a presentation from the Honourable Commissioner for Health on the review of the State’s health emergency response and noted the significant accomplishments recorded by the administration in strengthening healthcare delivery across the State.

Council noted the recruitment of over 2,854 health workers, the completion of twenty-nine (29) Model Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), the ongoing upgrade of seventeen (17) additional PHCs, and the rehabilitation of four secondary healthcare facilities.

The Governor-in-Council directed that emergency measures be adopted to bypass bureaucratic bottlenecks and accelerate the recruitment of more medical doctors to address manpower gaps in the health sector.

Council further noted the acquisition of three CT Scan machines, with three additional units expected, as well as two MRI machines, alongside the ongoing digitization of healthcare processes to improve efficiency, expand access, and enhance the quality of healthcare services across the State.

Council also received and approved the transmission of nine (9) health sector Bills to the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly for legislative consideration; these include:

i. Akwa Ibom State Public Health Security Bill, 2026.
ii. Akwa Ibom State Healthcare Facilities and Service Standards, Monitoring and Accreditation Agency Bill, 2026.
iii. Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
iv. Akwa Ibom State College of Health Sciences and Technology Law.
v. College of Nursing Sciences (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
vi. Akwa Ibom State Medical Residency Training Bill, 2026.
vii. Akwa Ibom State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
viii. Akwa Ibom State Drugs and Health Supplies Management Agency Bill, 2026.
ix. Akwa Ibom State University Teaching Hospital Bill, 2026.

5. Council reviewed plans for the hosting of Christmas Unplugged 4.0 and the 2026 Annual Christmas Carol Festival.

The Governor-in-Council directed that the planning and execution of Christmas Unplugged 4.0 should incorporate innovative and creative ideas, explore new frontiers, and place greater emphasis on showcasing Akwa Ibom State’s rich culinary and cultural heritage on a Local Government Area basis.

Council approved Friday, 18 December 2026, as the date for the 2026 Annual Christmas Carol Festival.

The Governor-in-Council also announced plans for a two-day Youth Conference aimed at engaging young people across the State and promoting a mindset reset that will inspire responsible leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, and active participation in the State’s developmental trajectory.

6. Council received a report from the Honourable Commissioner for Water Resources and Sanitation on the proposed solar-powered rural water projects to be implemented across the 369 wards of the State.

Council noted that the programme is aimed at providing sustainable and potable water to rural communities and endorsed the proposal for phased implementation.

The Governor-in-Council directed the Ministry to forward a detailed presentation to the Finance and General Purposes Committee for procurement review, cost evaluation, and further necessary action.

7. Following a report presented by the Honourable Commissioner for Sports on preparations for the hosting of the 2026 Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival, Council approved the hosting of the event later in the year.

The Governor-in-Council commended the impact of the Sports Festival on youth talent discovery, sports development, and social integration, and urged the Organising Committee to ensure a successful outing.

He also congratulated two indigenes of the state, Edidiong Umofia and Ruth Nyong who won gold and silver medal respectively in weightlifting, at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

8. The Governor-in-Council swore in the new State Statistician-General, Mr Uduak Isaac, who also serves as Permanent Secretary, Human Capital Development.

The Governor charged him to ensure the effective management and coordination of the State’s statistical system in support of evidence-based planning and the implementation of the ARISE Agenda.

He further directed the Statistician-General to produce regular statistical reports on the State’s development indicators to facilitate policy formulation, monitoring, and evaluation.

9. Council noted the presentation of the Best African Leader in People-Centric Governance Award to the Governor, which was received on his behalf by the Deputy Governor during the 19th Security Watch Africa Conference and Awards Ceremony held in Banjul, The Gambia.

The Governor expressed appreciation to the organisers for recognising the achievements of the administration and dedicated the award to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR; former Governor Udom Emmanuel, CON; Senate President Godswill Akpabio, GCON; members of the State Executive Council; and the people of Akwa Ibom State, in recognition of their support and contributions to the development of the State.

10. The Governor-in-Council thanked the people of Akwa Ibom State for their continued support and urged them to remain steadfast as the administration continues to work for the peace, progress, and prosperity of the State.

The meeting rose at 7:40 p.m.

Rt. Hon. Aniekan Umanah, PhD
Commissioner for Information