Excerpts From The Akwa Ibom State Executive Council Meeting Held on Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Excerpts From The Akwa Ibom State Executive Council Meeting Held on Tuesday, August 19, 2025

The Akwa Ibom State Executive Council held its meeting on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at the Executive Council Chamber, Government House, Uyo.

The meeting was presided over by the Governor and Chairman-in-Council, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, PhD; and in attendance were the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, the Secretary to the State Government, the Head of Civil Service, the Executive Assistant and Chief Delivery Advisor, Honourable Commissioners, and Special Advisers.

In his opening remarks, His Excellency welcomed Council members and emphasized the importance of teamwork, urging them to leverage one another’s strengths in the collective drive to actualize the ARISE Agenda for the overall development of the State.

COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS

• Following a review of the report by the Projects Management Office, the Executive Council approved the award of 357 projects across various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to qualified youths and companies who applied through the State procurement portal. The Governor-in-Council urged individuals and businesses in the State to take full advantage of these opportunities for the benefit of the people.

• After considering the status report on the Ibom International Hospital project, a proposed 350-bed first-class medical facility, the Council ratified the Project Agreement, Award of Contract and the formal handover of the site to the contractors.

• The Council received presentations from various ministries, notably the Ministry of Works, and reviewed the 771km of road projects spread across the 31 local government areas. The Commissioner for Works, in collaboration with the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, was directed to align the road project needs identified during the Federal Constituency Town Square Meetings with available budgetary envelopes in the 2026 Peoples Budget to ensure coverage across the State.

• In a determined effort to consolidate the State’s power sector development drive, the Council reviewed the roadmap for implementing a sustainable energy programme and approved the hosting of a Power Summit to anchor and accelerate the delivery of reliable and affordable electricity in the State.

• As part of the State’s Tourism Development and Destination Akwa Ibom marketing plan, Council reviewed a presentation by the Tony Blair Institute (TBI). Consequently, the Governor- in Council inaugurated an Inter-Ministerial Delivery Committee to drive the forthcoming Tourism Summit and harness opportunities for the State Tourism development Committee chaired by His Excellency, the Governor, with membership comprising the Commissioner for Tourism; Commissioner for Information; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice. Other members include the Chairman of ALGON; the Honorary Special Adviser on Culture and Tourism/Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Hotels and Tourism Board; Ms. Ebenezer Eno; the Managing Director of AKICORP; and the Delivery Advisor on Tourism.

• To curb illegal mining activities in the State, the Governor-in-Council inaugurated the State Committee on Combating Illegal Mining with a clear mandate to regulate and monitor mineral resource activities. The Committee is chaired by the Commissioner for Environment, with membership comprising the Commissioner for Finance, Commissioner for Transport; the Commissioner for Internal Security; the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice; the Commissioner of Police; the Honourary Special Adviser on Security; the Chairman of ALGON; and the Chairmen of the Coastal Local Government Areas.

• In preparation for the forthcoming Akwa Ibom Sports Festival, Council approved the purchase of equipment for 30 different sports. The festival, which is part of the youth development thrust of the ARISE Agenda, is designed to promote sports and talent development across the State. The event is scheduled to commence with an opening ceremony on Monday, September 8, 2025. The Governor urged Council members and stakeholders to mobilize support in their respective LGAs. A total of 18 sporting competitions will be featured.

• Following a progress report on the Oron Maritime Terminal, including associated jetties, ferries procurement and supporting infrastructure, Council directed an acceleration of works to ensure the resumption of full maritime transport services and the development of the blue economy corridor.

• Council received a briefing on the factory inspection of the CNG City Buses being manufactured in Turkey. EXCO approved an increase in the ordered fleet from 20 to 50 buses to ensure adequate coverage of all 31 LGAs on a rotational basis.

• Council noted the commencement of the INEC Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise and urged members and stakeholders to mobilize citizens to actively participate in this important civic duty.

• In its effort to further strengthen security and public safety, the Governor in Council received in courtesy the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede who is on an operational visit to the State. The Army Chief commended Akwa Ibom as one of the safest States in the country and expressed appreciation for the cooperation extended to security agencies by the State Government.

The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.

Rt. Hon. Aniekan Umanah
Commissioner for Information
August 19, 2025