How Akwa Ibom is deploying increased allocation from FAAC to boost socio-economic development

Akwa Ibom has deployed the improved revenue allocation from FAAC and from the removal of subsidy to boost its socio-economic activities in many sectors.

In deploying the resources, the state government has initiated and completed many projects including the construction of one model primary school and primary healthcare centre in each of the 31 local government areas as wells the construction of over 1,300 kilometre of roads with 12 bridges.

It is also touching lives by the prompt payment of pensions and gratuities, committing over N76 billion in that aspect while it has distributed food items to the vulnerable people across the state.

One of the major projects include the construction of the aviation village, equipping its airport for international operations and the massive investment in agriculture.

Another key project being executed by the state government is the maritime jetty and shoreline reclamation project in Oron.

Aniekan Umanah, commissioner for Information, acknowledging that Akwa Ibom state has benefitted from improved revenue said that the state government has utilized the funds in the development of the state with the impact being felt by the people.

In an interview, Umanah said big projects that would leave lasting impact in the state were being executed by Governor Umo Eno.

“Yes, the resources have improved, that is why in Akwa Ibom State, we also have projects , big projects, ongoing projects that are completed and more in different areas,” he said the resources available are being utilized in expenditures to improve the livelihood of the people.

“For instance, with about 1300 kilometres of roads and 32 bridges in various states, you known what an everage kilometre of road would cost,  to multiple that you would see how much billions would have gone into the area of road construction alone.

“You look at agricultural development, you can see the investment made in developing the farm systems, in supporting food develop-ment , and food security even in the distribution of food, the construction of an aviation village, free housing scheme for civil servants and the huge investment in the food security.

“If you have an idea of what it costs to distribute food to the vulnerable, to over 600,000 vulnerable families, even with the cost of 5 kg bag of rice and if you that multiply by over 600,000 , it will give you an idea of how much billions would have gone into that area alone.  Not to talk about the food distribution to families across the state during the Christmas celebration., at 40 bags of rice per village, 272 villages, you will see how much money has gone back to the people”

“In terms of resource application, we must commend the governor for prudent management of resources of the state, look at the big projects like the maritime project at Oron, the shoreline protection, the jetty, and all of which is being constructed in the area, these are things like agriculture, the construction of the 5,000 convention centre, the Ibom Tropicana project, even the Ibom hotel that is being rehabilitated, the 18-storey building in Lagos.

“Take the minimum wage payment, take the number of workers in the state and march with the minimum wage with the consequential increment, it comes with a lot of money. That is why Akwa Ibom is a happy place for people to live and work, that is why retirees today, with over N76 billion , put into paying pensions and gratuities of people and this is still ongoing.

“According to him, funds are going to these areas to help the system work, education, healthcare development, the free education is funded by the state government.

“So the funds coming into the state are applied to the state, to the socio-economic development of the state, in various, whether it is in the socio-economic sector, in infrastructure, even in peace and security of the state, it costs a lot of money to keep the state safe, airport development, aviation village construction,and getting the international status of the airport will require a lot of investment and this is still ongoing.”

Though critics have faulted the absence of legacy projects, Umanah believes each administration has its priority projects and focus adding that the Arise resort being constructed by Governor Umo Eno is a legacy project, explaining that it is a reclamation of 73 hectares of gully erosion, construction of a tourism destination that would bring the world to Akwa Ibom  and create socio-economic impact for the people.

“That is huge investment,every government must choose its priority and focus, again the maritime infrastructure at Oron is a legacy project which on its own can build many flyovers,’’  ading that economic activities would blossom at the completion of the maritime project at Oron while maintaining that flyovers would come with time.

“So far so good, with more resources to states,  more projects in Akwa Ibom, more interventions and better livelihood for the people,” he said.