Jackson Udom
He epitomises excellence in service, and is a firm believer of quality delivery and human capacity development.
Born 59 years ago, Godswill Akpabio, fondly called Uncommon Transformer, is the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs. Before now, he was the governor of Akwa Ibom State from 2007 to 2015. Thus, his tenure as the state chief executive witnessed transformation of the state in an unprecedented fashion, which earned him the tag: The Uncommon Transformer.
In recognition of his landmark achievements as the state governor, his people in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District sent him as their representative to the Senate. For the first time, Senate suspended its rules for him, a first timer, to be elected the Minority Leader.
As a governor, he introduced free, but compulsory and qualitative education for all school age children resident in Akwa Ibom State, without political, religious or cultural considerations, free medical care for pregnant women, children and the aged; as well as infrastructural renaissance in the state.
Akpabio is highly detribalised. He pays little or no attention to where anyone who crosses his path comes from. It is on records that as a governor, his CSO, Orderly and ADC were all non-indigenes of the state.
The former governor came into office in 2007 with a strong resolve to leave the state better than he met it. Before he left office, he made Akwa Ibom a reference point in the comity of states. He built a stadium, which was later christened the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium by the state House of Assembly in recognition of his uncommon achievements in the state.
He ensured that Victor Attach International Airport, Uyo, which he met at site clearing level, became functional equipped with internationally fitted landing and lighting system. He installed one of the longest runways in the industry in Nigeria and superintended over the first take-off and landing of international flights before he left office in 2015. In short, Akwa Ibom under Akpabio was a huge construction site.
In addition, he turned numerous boys to men, girls to women through empowerment and human capital development after abolishing ill-famed house boy/girl syndrome.
Akpabio, as governor, was determined to put to an end the perennial problem of flooding across the state during the rainy season. He got the construction giant, Julius Berger that deployed pipe jacking or micro-tunneling technology to end the menace that had become a yearly horrific experience for the urban dwellers.
Apart from saving the structures from being submerged, ex-Governor Akpabio reckoned that flood would make nonsense of the huge sums of money that had been sunk into road construction and the flyover projects if the issue of flooding was not timely contained.
In the Senate as its Minority leader, Akpabio demonstrated high level of patriotism in handling of government issues with the opposition. Those who expected him to play blind opposition politics were disappointed with his style of leadership. He was able to balance his role as the leader of opposition and the need to support everything that would be of benefit to Nigerians brought to the floor of the Senate by the ruling party.
Given the long list of achievements recorded by Senator Akpabio in Akwa Ibom State, this tribute which attempts to mirror his journey to his 59th birthday will do well to expand its horizon to his stay at the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
Akpabio’s appointment as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, has led to many positive developments in the ministry and by extension, the Niger Delta Delta Development Commission (NDDC). His first work plan was to ensure that the region remains peaceful while various stakeholders were frequently engaged on ways to move the region forward for its development.
As the supervising minister in charge of the commission, Akpabio is doing everything within his powers to ensure that the incoming board NDDC board meets the yearnings and aspirations of the people of the region through effective dispensation of services. And that was why the Federal Government constituted Forensic Audit look into the activities of the commission. The report that had been submitted to the Federal Government, would be used to chart a new course for the soon-to-be inaugurated board of the commission.
As Minister of the Niger Delta Ministry, Akpabio, with the tacit support of President Buhari, has bequeathed to the region newly-completed 13 and 8-storey buildings as the NDDC headquarters, completed and set for inauguration, 52 projects in the nine Niger Delta States, over 77 roads are ready for commissioning, and the inauguration of the Police SPU Quarters in Port Harcourt, the completed 1000 bed space built by the commission for the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State is ready for commissioning, while the electrification project in Ilaje Ese-Odo, Ondo state is at the verge of completion and inauguration.
Other projects include the Skill Acquisition Centre (SAC) at Agadagba in Ondo State with 38 buildings, training of seven of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) anchored on the Under Water Welding Facility at SAC Ibeno in Akwa Ibom State, Cassava Plant Processing Plant at Usugbene Irrua, Edo State; Health Centre, Amauzari Community, Isiala Mbano, LGA, Imo State; Health Centre, at Odi, Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA, Bayelsa State; Land Reclamation/Erosion Control Works at Nsit Attai LGA, Akwa Ibom State.
The rest are renovation of Health Centre, at Eworkpe, Emede, Isoko South LGA, Delta State; Umudike-Umueze-Umuoyere Road Project, (Phase 1) River State; Mini Water Works at Ikot Effiong Village, Akasoko Clan (Idundu/Anyanganse Ward) Akpabuyo LGA, Cross River; Boreholes and Reticulation in Ndulu-Amaoba, Oboro Water Project, Ikwuano LGA, Abia State.
”These and others yet to come,’’ the Minister once said, ‘’wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the nation’s leader, President Muhammadu Buhari,’’ whom he said has demonstrated total commitment to making life meaningful for the people of the of the oil producing region.
Indeed, there is an uncommon officer in the Niger Delta Ministry who is doing good for his people and the nation as he clocks 59, wishing the Uncommon GSM a happy birthday and more fruitful years in good health to do more for Nigeria and the Niger Delta Region.
Udom is the Chief Press Secretary to the Minister
