Scorecard: A/Ibom Executes 234 Roads, Bridges, Tackles Flood, Others With N879bn

The Akwa Ibom State Government has executed and funded 234 road, erosion-control and related intervention projects involving 40 bridges, alongside expanded investments in sports development under the Governor Umo Eno – led administration in the last three years.

The disclosures were made at the Ministerial Media Briefing for the month of September held at Akpan Isrmin Hall, Government House, Uyo, ahead of the September 23 anniversary of the State creation in 1987, covering the administration’s performance Works and Sports Development.

Setting the tone, the Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Umanah, said the briefing was part of the administration’s periodic engagement with the media to account for its policies, projects and impact. He urged journalists to interrogate government figures, seek facts and provide accurate information to citizens.

Highlighting the achievements in his Ministry, the Commissioner for Works, Prof. Eno Ibanga, disclosed that 1,159.6 kilometres of roads had been undertaken through FGPC, direct-labour projects, while 43 RAMP projects supported by the World Bank and State counterpart funding covered about 382.83 kilometres.

Prof. Ibanga said the total State government expenditure on road infrastructure since the administration assumed office was N879.22 billion, excluding RAMP expenditure. He said N747.51 billion was spent on projects initiated by the current administration, comprising N615.65 billion on FGPC projects and N131.86 billion on emergency projects, while N131.71 billion went into inherited projects.

Of 105 inherited projects funded under the administration, 47 were FGPC projects, 51 direct-labour projects and seven erosion-control, electrification and other interventions. 57 have been completed, with 15 commissioned. The administration has also initiated 129 projects, 67 FGPC, 47 direct-labour and 15 other interventions with 26 completed and 20 commissioned.

On maintenance, Prof. Ibanga said 123 potholes and failed-road locations had been treated through patching and overlays, with extensive works also carried out across identified locations in Uyo metropolis. The administration, he added, targets at least 10 kilometres of roads in every local government area.

Projects awarded in 2026 include the Ibom Deep Seaport access road, International Market internal roads, Ikot Ekpene-Ikot Ibritam Road, Ikot Ekpene internal roads, Industrial Park internal roads, Shelter Afrique internal roads, Ndon Eyo-Ikot Akpan Abia-Ikot Nkwo Road, Nsit Atai-Nsit Ibom roads and internal roads in Inen Ekpene. He also linked ARISE Palm Resort development to erosion-remediation works around Udo Udoma and Dominic Utuk.

The commissioner said road interventions had reduced travel time, opened alternative routes, increased property values, stimulated rural economic activity and created jobs, while improving connectivity and emergency response. He said power infrastructure had also been relocated in several areas to create the right-of-way for construction.

Prof. Ibanga said the State was transitioning from diesel-powered streetlights to solar systems, with 6,386 of 6,441 units under Phases 1 and 2 installed in Uyo, representing about 95 per cent completion. Monthly diesel use for street lighting has dropped from about 150,000 litres, costing roughly N300 million at N2,000 per litre, to below 32,000 litres. The ministry also installed a 1.1MVA generator and constructed a 1,500KVA dedicated substation at the Idongesit Nkanga State Secretariat Annex to connect the facility to the national grid.

On his part, the Commissioner for Sports Development, Elder Paul Bassey, said the ministry became a standalone ministry on September 19, 2023, after its separation from the former Ministry of Youth Development and Sports. Its mandate, he said, is to discover, develop and empower grassroots talent while using sports to promote human-capital development, youth empowerment, tourism, employment and economic diversification.

Elder Bassey said the ministry inherited about 110 staff, 18 coaches and 28 ad-hoc coaches, as well as more than 128 non-staff personnel, including 103 performing athletes and 24 labour hands. Its achievements include hosting the 2025 Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival, Judiciary Games and Niger Delta Games; participating in the 2025 National Sports Festival in Abeokuta; procuring sporting equipment and creating a database of athletes’ performances and timings.

According to the Sports Commissioner, Akwa Ibom competed in 22 sports at the 2025 National Sports Festival and finished ninth among States, which he described as its best performance in a long period. The State also hosted the National Youth Games zonal elimination for team sports and the MTN Making of Champions competition, through which at least 10 athletes secured scholarships and training at the Making of Champions Academy in Lagos.

Elder Bassey said the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium remained the State’s major CAF- and FIFA-standard venue, with maintenance sustained under the current administration. The stadium won Football Pitch of the Year at the Pitch Awards in 2024 and 2025, while Governor Eno received the Football-Loving Governor of the Year award. A gymnasium was also constructed at the stadium with support from Julius Berger.

The commissioner said Governor Eno approved monthly allowances for performing athletes and financial rewards for medal winners. At the 2025 National Youth Games in Asaba, Team Akwa Ibom won 11 gold, nine silver and 10 bronze medals, attracting approved rewards of N500,000, N250,000 and N150,000 respectively. Three Akwa Ibom athletes who won medals representing Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games were also granted automatic employment.

The state has approved construction of an ARISE Sports Academy in Eket, beginning with perimeter fencing and a gatehouse. Bassey said the academy would initially focus on selected sports in which Akwa Ibom has demonstrated strength, while the broader sports strategy would cover athletes, coaches, schools, clubs, sports medicine, physiotherapy, analytics, player management, sponsorship, broadcasting and merchandising. Governor Eno has also directed the ministry to explore reviving inter-school and inter-house sports for talent discovery and called for stronger private-sector participation, particularly in disciplines beyond football such as chess, boxing, swimming, wrestling, weightlifting, athletics, judo and karate.