Business activities have resumed in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital following the expiration of the curfew imposed by the state government on Thursday after hoodlums attacked many buildings and looted shops.
The intracity buses that were off the road have resumed operations while Point Of Sale operators returned to their business outlets, according to a check by BusinessDay.
The hoodlums who came in the guise of protesting police brutality set many buildings on fire and looted many malls and showrooms carting away electronic equipment and household items.
According to findings, , the worst affected appears to the LG showroom along Ikot Ekpene road which is said to have lost goods worth over N200 million.
Governor Udom Emmanuel who made a broadcast on Friday had promised to roll out training programmes for youths in the area of entrepreneurship as well as oil gas saying the state would create over 3, 000 jobs for the in the recently approved oil and gas free zone.
“Government is committed to continually engage our youths in our developmental plans through job creation and other employment opportunities. In the next few weeks, we will commence our bold high-level skilled training employment programme tagged “Ibom 3000 Project”
Read also: Udom signs 2020 appropriation bill of N456.2 billion into law
He said that the state government would train Akwa Ibom youths, 3000 per quarter, and 3000 per Senatorial Districts in the following sectors: Oil and Gas, ICT, Agriculture, and Small and Medium Scale Enterprises.
According to him, the training will prepare our youths for over 1,000 jobs that will be created in the Oil and Gas Free Zone and other job opportunities in the ICT and e-commerce sector.
“My Entrepreneurship Goals Programme will start next week, which is another bold and decisive step taken by the government to provide needed education and skills in entrepreneurship so our youths may use the skills acquired to create jobs for themselves,” he said.
Meanwhile, the state police command has announced the recovery of some of the looted items and the arrest of several suspects.
Amiengheme Andrew, commissioner of police who announced this in Uyo said 10 suspected had been arrested and stolen items worth millions of naira recovered.
Among the items recovered include fourteen (14) deep freezers Six (6) refrigerators, eight (8) flat Screen Televisions, four (4) water dispensers,
Sixteen (16) bags of rice, four (4) air conditions, three ( 3 ) gas cookers, a printer, tables, chairs, and other items.
He said the command would stop at nothing in ensuring that all looted items are recovered.
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