Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State has attributed the inability of his administration to execute most development projects in the state to a loss of about 44 per cent revenue collection from the Federation Account last year.

Chief Akpabio stated this yesterday at Ikot Abasi Council Hall during a town hall meeting/constituency briefing in Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency. He admitted to have collected about 36 per cent revenue in 2013 from the Federation Account.

The governor described the revenue shortfall as a national problem caused by crude oil theft and bunkering which adversely affected revenue accruable to the Federation Account and usually shared among the three tiers of government on a monthly basis.

He lamented that the revenue shortfall has stifled redemption of some of his electioneering promises to people in the federal constituency and execution of projects, especially roads listed in the 2013 approved budget, assuring to include some projects he could not execute in the handing-over notes to the incoming administration.

Akpabio, however, announced the state government has completed 298 projects in the federal constituency, noting: “In terms of other projects, we have done a lot for this Federal Constituency. At the inception of this administration, we promptly completed the first phase of the Ibom Power Plant, which we met at 65 per cent level of completion. We have also done 12.9 km of urban roads in Ikot Abasi LGA. We have handed the old Housing Unit to the Navy and donated land for a Navy Secondary School.”

According to him, “We have also built and commissioned a brand new General Hospital at Eastern Obolo with state-of-the-art equipment. The Akwa Ibom State University is sited at Mkpat Enin and not only have we invested heavily in the development of its infrastructure, the school is set to graduate its first set of students. We have also tarred 13.5 km of urban roads in Mkpat Enin.

“It should be noted that Government exists to meet the needs of the citizenry. We have therefore embarked on several other projects which benefits cut across the entire state. Such projects and programmes include the Security Villages in all the local government areas in our state, the Free and Compulsory Education Programme of this administration, as well as the Free Healthcare programme for pregnant women, children and the elderly. We also completed the Ibom International Airport, which we met at site-clearing level.

“We also completed the first phase of the Ibom Power Plant and put our state in a pole position for uninterrupted power once a few hitches are solved. You may know about our Ibom E-Library (the first of its kind in West Africa), the Ibom Specialist Hospital, the Ibom International Stadium (which would be completed this year), the Ibom Gas Plant, the Tropicana Entertainment Centre, a one-stop, state-of-the-art hospitality complex, and so many other projects, which are for the benefit of all Akwa Ibom people in spite of their location outside your Federal Constituency.”

Governor Akpabio, meanwhile, confirmed the establishment of 14 factories in the state. He made the confirmation while responding the contributions of a one-time Chairman of Ikot Abasi LGA, Obong Amaete Ntuk, on the industrialisation of the 31 local government areas of the state during the town hall meeting/constituency briefing. He hinted that the investors are to produce cassava and manufacture television sets, air-conditioners and other household materials.

Obong Nsima Ekere, immediate past state deputy governor, commended the Governor for hosting the town hall meeting to hear from the masses and opined that Ikot Abasi or Oron Federal Constituency be considered for the 2015 Governorship position zoned to Eket Senatorial district since Eket Federal Constituency had already produced two former governors.

Dr. Akpan Micah Umoh, member representing Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives said the town hall meeting has provided the people of the federal constituency an opportunity celebrate Governor Akpabio’s achievements to the people.

Edidem Udo J. Ntukobom XII, Paramount Ruler of Ikot Abasi, praised Governor Akpabio for the various political appointments offered indigenes of the area and development projects sited in the constituency, and appealed for intervention on Essene Road and other roads awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to some contractors.

Dr. Charles Mbong, a one-time member who represented Eastern Obolo in Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly while re-affirming his commitment to the success of 2015 governorship race called for the construction of Ikot Akpaden-Iko Town Road, among others.

•Photo shows Governor Akpabio.

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