Akwa Ibom Spends N4bn On Land Compensation, Builds 1,050 Housing Units

The Akwa Ibom State Government has spent over N4 billion on compensation to host communities and property owners to resolve long-standing land acquisition disputes across strategic project locations in the state.

The Commissioner for Lands and Town Planning, Dr. Ubong John Inyang, disclosed this during the ongoing ministerial briefing on achievements recorded under Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda in the last three years.

Inyang said the compensation covered land acquired for Ibom Medical City, the new Akwa Ibom Geographic Information System (AKWAGIS) headquarters, the Ibom Broadcasting Corporation complex, the State Command and Control Centre, and several judicial quarters.

He also disclosed that the government had established a Land Conflict Resolution Desk to promote alternative dispute resolution and reduce the burden of litigation.

According to him, the initiative has facilitated the out-of-court settlement or withdrawal of more than 100 pending land cases.

On land administration, Inyang said AKWAGIS had been formally rolled out following recent executive assent, with title verification, Certificate of Occupancy processing and revenue collection moving to digital platforms.

He added that urban planning frameworks were being reviewed across major growth corridors, including Uyo, Eket, Oron and Ikot Ekpene, to curb illegal developments and strengthen enforcement of building regulations.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Housing, Dr. Henry Archibong, said the state had constructed more than 1,050 residential units, with over 75 per cent of its total housing stock dedicated to social housing programmes for vulnerable and low-income residents.

Archibong said housing delivery went beyond providing shelter to creating an ecosystem of affordable, sustainable, environmentally friendly and economically viable homes.

He listed key projects nearing completion to include the 100-unit Aviation Village Phase One, which was 98 per cent complete; the 103-unit Medical Doctors’ Residence at Itam Medical City, at 70 per cent completion; and 54 units of Judiciary Quarters.

The commissioner also disclosed that 461 of the 500 ARISE Compassionate Homes targeted by the government had been completed and handed over to underprivileged beneficiaries across various local government areas.

To support future housing development, he said the state had earmarked about 150 hectares of land across six locations for residential expansion.

He added that the estates would be equipped with perimeter fencing, paved roads, continuous electricity supply and reticulated water.

On water supply and sanitation, the Commissioner for Water Resources and Sanitation, Hon. Ubuo Effiong Ubuo, said site selections had been completed for solar-powered, reticulated water schemes covering all 369 electoral wards in the state.

Ubuo said the State Executive Council had approved the procurement of critical components for the projects to ensure residents across the wards had access to clean and sustainable water.

Citing figures from the national WASH NORM survey, he said access to improved water sources in Akwa Ibom had risen from 35.8 per cent to 78.5 per cent, while access to improved sanitation stood at 71.2 per cent.

He added that the ministry had completed its comprehensive Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) policy roadmap, which aims to eliminate open defecation and achieve statewide Open Defecation Free status by 2030.