Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno has sought strategic partnerships with the Federal Government in key critical areas of development.
These areas include granting export licence to Ibom Deep Seaport, granting free zone to Maintenance, Repairs and Overhauling (MRO) facility in Victor Attah International Airport.
Eno stated this on Thursday while briefing State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said “Politics is over and governance has started. So, Akwa Ibom is an integral part of Nigeria and we have to work with the federal government to ensure that Akwa Ibomite will see the benefits of democracy and we cannot do that if we work standing apart.
“And so we came to visit with the president like I said, to congratulate him and pledge our support to work with him and our commitment as a state so that Akwa Ibomite will derive the full benefit of democracy.
“There are lots of things we expect from the federal government and it’s only with that cooperation that we can work together and achieve the common good, whatever I know I can do, to bring the dividends of democracy to my people, I will do it.”
On requests presented to the President in the course of the meeting, he said, “We talked about the road you have just mentioned – the Calabar-Itu Road. We will need the president to help us intervene and let’s get that finished. We talked about Akwa Ibom Deep Seaport.
“We will need the President to also intervene and let’s get the Seaport. I also mentioned to him the Export Licence, the Free Zone for our airport, so that the maintenance, repairs, and overhauling facility there; will be able to bring in spare parts to service the airplanes. These are strategic partnerships that we want with the federal government.
“So, I talked about it and he has promised to look into it, and I believe him.”
The governor, therefore, pledged support for President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government.
On planned palliatives for his people following the removal of fuel subsidy, he said “The President has directed that states governors, of course, should work on palliatives for the citizenry.
“We will do just that. There are a number of things and as we get into early next week if you focus on Akwa Ibom, you will see various things we are going to put in place to support our people and shield them from the effects of the subsidy removal.’’
Eyakenyi assures NEMA of enabling environment
In another development, Akwa Ibom State Government has assured the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) of an enabling environment for an improved disaster management in the state.
The State Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, gave the assurance during an interactive meeting between the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the National Emergency Management Agency at Government House, Uyo on Wednesday.
Dr. Eyakenyi, who appreciated the agency for the role it has played so far in assisting Akwa Ibom in the management of disaster issues, said NEMA was in the state for the enumeration exercise of communities affected by disaster with the aim of assisting the affected victims.
The number two citizen stated that the administration of Pastor Umo Eno, was a new era that would promote a robust partnership between SEMA and NEMA to ensure that Akwa Ibom people get their due from the Federal Government.
According to her, the ARISE Agenda of the new administration was basically to reach out to Akwa Ibom youths through job creation to take them off the streets and crimes, adding that Governor Umo Eno, has a great vision for the state and would vigorously pursue the vision through the agenda.
Eyakenyi maintained that Akwa Ibom Government will continue to sustain the existing cordial relationship and effective collaboration that had been established with the Federal Government through the NEMA.
She said the Government had taken note of the issue of inadequate warehouse to accommodate items released by NEMA, assuring that provision will be made for effective storage and distribution.
The deputy governor urged the agency to be ready to work with the present administration towards effective service delivery in disaster management in the state.
Earlier, the South-South Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Mr. Godwin Tepikor, had stated that the team had been in the state for the past three weeks for an enumeration exercise, to capture communities and victims that had been affected by disaster.
Tepikor commended the State Government for acknowledging the role NEMA has played in the state, adding that Akwa Ibom has benefitted greatly from the Federal Government.
He assured of a continued collaboration between the federal and state agencies for effective service delivery.
In her remarks, Akwa Ibom State coordinator of SEMA, Dr. Grace Ubon, called on the local government chairmen to ensure judicious distribution of the items, and expressed hope that the affected victims would be touched by the gesture.
The items included mattresses, pillows, blankets, cooking pots, cartons of noodles, bags of rice, bags of beans, bags of salt, grinding machines, sewing machines, hair clippers, bags of cement, roofing sheets, ceiling boards, among others.
