Akwa lbom State Government is to honour the visit of President Bola Tinubu to the state with the commissioning of 39 completed projects across the state. This was contained in a resolution issued on Tuesday at the end of the State Executive Council meeting.

The government said Tinubu’s visit will also coincide with the 39th anniversary of the creation of Akwa Ibom State.

It stated, “Council noted that the president is scheduled to commission strategic projects, including the New Terminal Building, Airport Hospital, Aviation Village, the 14.5-kilometre Nsit Atai–Okobo Road, the Dualisation of Ring Road 3, the Command and Control Centre, AkwaGIS, the State Secretariat Annex, and the ARISE Palm Resort.”

The resolution issued by the Commissioner for Information, AniekanUmanah, said, “Governor-in-Council directed all relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure seamless coordination and adequate preparations for the successful hosting of the president and the commissioning exercise.”

To strengthen healthcare delivery across the state, council highlighted the recruitment of over 2,854 health workers, completion of 29 Model Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), ongoing upgrade of 17 additional PHCs, and rehabilitation of four secondary healthcare facilities.

The government said, “The Governor-in-Council directed that emergency measures be adopted to bypass bureaucratic bottlenecks and accelerate the recruitment of more medical doctors to address manpower gaps in the health sector.

“Council further noted the acquisition of three CT Scan machines, with three additional units expected, as well as two MRI machines, alongside the ongoing digitisation of healthcare processes to improve efficiency, expand access, and enhance the quality of healthcare services across the State.”

The council also received and approved the transmission of nine health sector bills to Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly for legislative consideration.

The council considered a memorandum on the implementation of an Economic Empowerment Programme for youths, women, traders, farmers, transport operators, and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across the 31 local government areas of the state.

The council approved the release of N31 billion, as provided in the 2026 Approved Budget, for the implementation of the programme at N1 billion per local government area.

The programme comprises youth skills acquisition, training and starter packs; women cooperative business support; traders’ business grants; agricultural support and farm inputs; SME development and enterprise growth; and the transport empowerment scheme.

The initiative, council said, was aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, job creation, poverty reduction, agricultural productivity, business growth, and inclusive economic development through skills acquisition, grants, enterprise support, farm inputs, and the distribution of productive asset,s such as tricycles, to qualified beneficiaries across the state.

A committee headed by Secretary to the State Government was constituted to work out modalities for the implementation and distribution of the intervention, which a total of 165, 912 persons will benefit from.

The governor thanked the people of Akwa Ibom State for their continued support, and urged them to remain steadfast as the administration continued to work for the peace, progress, and prosperity of the state. (Arise News)

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