Akakan Umoh
Ikot Ekpene Local Government Council in Akwa Ibom State has embarked on projects to revive rural economy and boost the livelihoods especially that of the less privileged in the area.
The council’s Chairman, Hon. Aniefiok Nkom said his administration is embarking on commercial ventures, Agricultural production, and community development initiatives to improve living conditions and strengthen the rural economy.
Speaking during an interview with the members of Amalgamated Newspaper Publishers Association (ANPA), led by its President, Pastor OsuiniAbasi Alfred, Mr. Nkom said the administration has prioritised the building of a shopping mall with 46 shops at 12 Umuahia Road, saying that the facility comprises 46 shops, adding that it has already attracted significant interest with 84 applicants reportedly expressing interest in the available spaces.
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Nkom excitedly mentioned the building of raffia city mall at former Ikot Ekpene Motor Park to revive the cultural heritage of the town and attract the tourists to patronise the products, saying this would put paid to the attitude of producers shipping the raffia products to Aba for patronage while the Akwa Ibom people would go there to purchase them.
Apart from it, the administration is also seeking to introduce raffia craft training into the curriculum of secondary schools in the area to expose younger generations to the skill and preserve the cultural heritage of the area.
He announced plans to provide local artisans with dedicated spaces to display and market their products, thereby promoting the town’s identity as the traditional “Raffia City.”
According to him, the council prioritises Agriculture by planting 12 hectares of cassava to boost adequate food production and is giving N30,000 grant to water leaf producers and N30,000 grant for groundnut sellers, noting that the beneficiaries are monitored to ensure that the interventions achieved the intended purpose.
He announced the renovation of the old Local Government Secretariat by equipping with toilet facilities, modern electrical system, councillors’ chambers to enhance a more conducive working environment for staffers and the elected representatives.
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The Chairman said his administration was equally addressing water and electricity challenges through the installation of solar-powered boreholes across the wards, restored faulty transformers by replacing damaged components, including transformer oil and parts, instead of opting for complete replacement.
‘‘We are alert over the electrical installations in the area. So far, we are prosecuting two electricity vandals in the court.’’
On transportation and road safety, he said the council had completed an abandoned motor park and undertaken the construction of speed bumps along major roads in the area as well as the filling of potholes along major Road to reduce accidents.
The filling of bumps, he said, has greatly checked incessant road accidents resulting in death of many especially children.
He added that the council has constructed a new truck park at Ibiakpan to better manage heavy-duty vehicles travelling from Calabar and other locations to reduce their impact on traffic within the town.
:The Chairman explained that the council’s empowerment strategy was devoid of providing the people with Keke tricycle, but is focusing less on indiscriminate cash distribution and more on equipping beneficiaries with practical skills and tools.
According to him, youths are being trained and provided with starter equipment, including sewing and grass-cutting machines, while women who already operate small businesses receive modest grants, including ₦30,000, to strengthen their businesses.
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On environmental management, the Chairman said the council had undertaken the desilting of drainage channels in Ikot Ekpene and other flood-prone areas to mitigate seasonal flooding.
He said the his administration has controlled the flooding in most parts of the area, except in Ifuho and Uruk Uso where it is still problematic, adding that contract has awarded to Ritman Company to handle it.
He also acknowledged the state government’s intervention through a flood-control contract awarded for Ikot Ekpene, noting that the combined efforts were expected to improve drainage and reduce the impact of flooding on residents.
Commenting on security of the area, the Chairman said the council has maintained close relationships with the police, village heads/chairmen and youth chairmen to prevent and resolve conflicts between herdsmen and farmers, pointing out that where there are reported cases and herdsmen are arrested, compensation is usually paid to the affected farmers. .
He explained that the local network was being used to identify persons involved in disputes and facilitate appropriate compensation where crops were destroyed, with the aim of preventing disagreements from escalating into violence.
On education sector, he said although the state government has already commenced the payment of bursary, he had personally supported indigent students and residents pursuing Ph.D programme by assisting with the payment of full school fees.
While the administration’s current interventions cover infrastructure, commerce, agriculture, social welfare and cultural preservation, questions remain about the broader long-term economic strategy that will give Ikot Ekpene a distinctive and globally competitive economic identity beyond the proposed shopping mall and its traditional raffia industry.
