Press Release
Against purported plans by the Cross River State Government to reclaim the 76 oil wells that were ceded to Akwa Ibom, the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has debunked claim of any dispute with the state, calling for calm among the people.
Speaking at the March edition of Government House Monthly Prayer Service in Uyo on Saturday, March 15, Eno noted that the issue had been to the Supreme Court twice and twice had it been ruled in favour of Akwa Ibom government.
Eno said there was no cause for alarm, as the case had been previously handled, but urged everyone to remain in the place of prayer for God to guide leaders to take the right decisions per time.
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“About the oil wells, let’s keep praying. Let’s keep trusting God. Keep praying to God; keep praying for the success of our President and that God will continue to grant him the wisdom to do the right thing. Let’s take it easy and go to God. He has not lost any battle and I know He won’t start with Akwa Ibom. What God has given to us belongs to us. So, these are our fundamental beliefs.”
Recall that the Cross River Governor, Bassey Otu, speaking during a press conference in Calabar on Tuesday, February 18, said the government was in the process of recovering the 76 oil wells that it lost to Akwa Ibom State.
The Supreme Court of Nigeria had, in 2012, ruled in favour of Akwa Ibom State in the dispute involving the rightful ownership of the oil wells, dismissing Cross River’s appeal.
Justice Olufunlola Adekeye, who delivered the lead judgment, stated that Cross River lost its status as a littoral state following the cession of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon in 2008.
“The facts before the court do not support the claim of the plaintiff to being a littoral state.
“A non-littoral state cannot claim oil wells offshore as she has no maritime territory.
“The plaintiff has no maritime territory since the cessation of Bakassi Peninsula and the Cross River estuary which used to be part of the state prior to August 2008,” he held.
Consequently, Cross River State was deemed ineligible to claim offshore oil wells.
Governor Eno also called on Akwa Ibom people to desist from disparaging leaders at any level, stressed that such was discouraging and could make leaders not to put in their best.
He advised Akwa Ibom people to avoid meddling into matters that they don’t have full understanding of, adding that such could be disastrous both to the individual, and the State as a whole.
Governor Eno, who has been very emphatic in his inclusivity and peaceful disposition, said “let us respect our leaders, and we must not kill our prophets. I think we should be able to encourage those that God has raised to lead us; and let them have that respect after they served us.
He said Oron Federal Constituency will host the next town hall meeting and urged them to maintain the tempo experienced in the first one held at Abak Federal Constituency.
The State Chief Executive also urged those interested in handling jobs for the State, to take advantage of the procurement portal, register and be part of the development trajectory in the State.
He also called on contractors and business owners to utilize the newly launched state procurement portal, which ensures transparent access to government contracts. Over 400 job opportunities are currently available through the platform, and he urged qualified individuals to register.
“We have several projects, including the construction of the Aviation Village, Commissioners’ Quarters, Legislators’ Quarters, and Judges’ Quarters. Contracts will be awarded based on merit, and no individual will receive multiple projects,” he stated.
Governor Eno reiterated his commitment to fairness in contract awards, stressing that opportunities should not depend on personal connections.
“We must build a state where people can bid for and secure government jobs without knowing anyone in power,” he added.
He also discouraged idleness, urging citizens to embrace hard work and self-sufficiency. “Do not sit at home while others are working and expect us to bring you money. When you work, you will be paid for your efforts and earn your profits,” he said.
Recap that the state Commissioner for Science and Digital Economy, Dr. Francis Ekpenyong had said another bold step toward transparency and economic empowerment with the launch of a digital procurement portal aimed at creating more opportunities for indigenous contractors.
At a joint press briefing on Friday at the Akpan Isemin Hall, Government House, Uyo, Ekpenyong described the initiative as a trailblazing that will ensure fairness in the bidding process for government contracts.
Taking journalists through a PowerPoint presentation, the Commissioner explained that the new portal, created on the directive of Governor Umo Eno, is designed to eliminate favouritism and backdoor dealings while allowing qualified contractors to apply for projects seamlessly.
“We are here today because we have a governor who believes in transparency. His directive was clear – every contract and procurement bidding must be open to all qualified persons. This portal ensures that only competent contractors with proven capacity are selected for government jobs,” he stated.
Ekpenyong further disclosed that the platform provides contractors and vendors access to numerous projects, including the construction of over 400 houses this year, covering Commissioners’ quarters, Legislative and Judiciary quarters, Medical Village, AKBC headquarters, and Aviation quarters, among others.
He urged interested contractors to visit procurement.akwaibomstate.gov.ng and register, explaining that each applicant will receive an 11-digit unique number after successfully completing the process.
On the Akwa Ibom Electronic Identity System (AKeID), Engr. Ekpenyong explained that residents need to provide their National Identification Number (NIN), Voter Identification Number (VIN), and bank details to register. He described the system as a secure, one-stop portal designed to streamline personal verification processes.
According to him, once an individual is verified, they will be assigned a unique 11-digit number, which will serve as a single access key for multiple government platforms, including the procurement portal, employment portal, MSMEs portal, and bursary portal.
“This will eliminate the stress of repeatedly entering personal details like bank information, NIN, and VIN when applying for government services,” he added.
The portal, he said, can be accessed at identity.akwaibomstate.gov.ng.
While commending the successful organization of the Town Hall/Town Square meeting in the Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency and the smooth execution of the Equipment Support Scheme programme at Uyo Township Stadium, Governor Eno noted that both events were conducted without any adverse incident.
In his homily, the Presiding Pastor of Beautiful Gate Family Church, Eket, Pastor (Dr.) Bolaji AdeIsrael, who ministered on the topic, The Battle Belongs to the Lord, said life is full of battles, and advised believers to stand on the promises of God and not give up.
