The Akwa Ibom State Executive Council, presided over by His Excellency, Governor Pastor Umo Eno, held a four-day Governance Retreat and an emergency Council meeting from April 7 to 10, 2025.
Themed “Delivering the ARISE Agenda,” the retreat provided a high-level platform for evaluating the government’s performance and outlining clear strategies for the effective delivery of ongoing and future projects and initiatives. The aptness of the theme was underscored by the government’s commitment to translating vision into action, with a strong emphasis on measurable impact, results-driven leadership, and people-focused development. The retreat reinforced the administration’s dedication to aligning governance outcomes with the core pillars of the ARISE Agenda.
The retreat also outlined key steps taken by the administration to place Akwa Ibom State on a sustainable path of internally generated revenue. These include reforms aimed at strengthening revenue-generating institutions, improving transparency in tax administration, and optimizing the performance of revenue collection agencies to support long-term economic growth and fiscal independence.
The retreat served as a strategic session to:
• Review the progress made under the ARISE Agenda over nearly two years of governance.
• Strengthen inter-agency coordination and enhance performance accountability.
• Outline delivery frameworks and timelines for critical projects and policies.
– Develop strategies to put the State on the path of sustainable internally generated revenue by strengthening the revenue generating institutions
• Equip Council members through 28 expert-led presentations and sessions covering project delivery, leadership, governance, communication, economic expansion, and public service reforms and revenue growth
Highlights of Executive Council Resolutions
1. The Executive Council approved the engagement of Alpha Diaz Ltd as the contractor for the Ibom City Bus Project, covering both construction and post-implementation management. The project is expected to significantly enhance efficient and cost-effective public transportation within the capital city and beyond.
2. Council ratified the award of the contract for the rehabilitation of the Ibom International Hotel to Ratcon Construction Company Ltd, with a 12-month completion timeline. The hotel when fully rehabilitated will compliment the International Conference Centre and propel the quest to position and market the state as a preferred tourism destination.
3. The Executive Council directed the review and structural regularization of board compositions and investments in all state-owned entities. It also approved the systematic divestment of government interests in selected commercial ventures, aligning with global best practices and economic realignment objectives to ensure long-term viability and operational efficiency. This decision followed a detailed presentation of the “Akwa Ibom Investment Book” and the status report on state investments by AKICORP.
4. Council reviewed the status and progress of various projects, particularly the One Project per Local Government Initiative (Phases One and Two) and the 47 projects either already flagged off or scheduled to commence before May 29, 2025. Council directed the Direct Labour Committee and relevant Ministries to urgently schedule the commissioning of all completed projects for public use. Additionally, 20 key projects were identified for commissioning or flag-off as part of activities to mark the administration’s second anniversary in May 2025.
5. Following a presentation by the Commissioner for Health on the urgent need to restructure the primary healthcare system, Council approved the establishment of the Akwa Ibom State Task Force on Primary Healthcare (PHC) to strengthen PHC services across the state’s 31 LGAs.
The Task Force comprises top government officials, local government leaders, traditional and religious authorities, medical professionals, and development partners including WHO, UNICEF, and NPHCDA.
Its Terms of Reference include:
• Coordinating PHC and immunization efforts across the state.
• Reviewing and implementing a 12-month PHC action plan.
• Monitoring and evaluating service quality and performance in all LGAs.
The four-day retreat concluded with multi-sectoral Action Points designed to deepen the implementation of the ARISE Agenda for the good of the people of Akwa Ibom State.
Council rose at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 10, 2025.
Aniekan Umanah
Commissioner for Information
