Hardship: Gov Eno Approves N31bn Lifeline For 165,912 Business Owners

Amid the choked business climate occasioned by the prevailing economic meltdown, the Akwa Ibom State Governor , Pastor Umo Eno, has come up with a financial elixir to keep small businesses afloat

Towards this end, the Governor has approved the sum of N31 billion business grants to Small and Micro Enterprises (SMEs) to 165,912 beneficiaries drawn across the 31 local government areas of the State.

The Governor, LEADERSHIP learnt, announced the financial package as a business cushion during the July session of the State Executive Counci (SEC) meeting held at the EXCO Chambers, of the Governor’s Office, Uyo, the State capital.

The Council meeting was convened shortly after the successful conclusion of the two-day Delivery Meeting, which provided an opportunity to review the implementation of government projects and programmes and assessment of progress in delivering the dividends of good governance to the people.

The Governor, who presided over the session, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the effective implementation of the ARISE Agenda blueprint of government across all sectors, and charged members of the SEC, to “remain focused, dedicated, and steadfast in delivering impactful, people-centred governance outcomes for the continued development of Akwa Ibom State.”

The Executive Council considered several reports and memoranda including a memorandum presented by the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning on the implementation of an economic empowerment programme for youths, women, traders, farmers, transport operators, SMEs across 31 LGAs.

Addressing Journalists at the end of the summit, the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Aniekan Umanah, explained that his brother boss approved the release N31 billion as captured already in the 2026 budget, “for the implementation of the programme at ₦1 billion per LGA.”

“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 is 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 assets such as tricycles to qualified beneficiaries across the State.

“Council noted that the programme is expected to benefit a total of 165,912 persons,” Umanah explained, adding that the Governor had constituted a Committee, headed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prince Enobong Uwah, to work out modalities for the implementation and distribution of the intervention and report back to the Executive Council.”

Other resolutions reached at the SEC forum, was the consideration the briefing by the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Special Duties regarding the forthcoming official visit of the President Bola Tinubu to State, and the planned 30 -day commissioning of 39 completed projects across the State to commemorate the 39th anniversary of the State creation in September.

He disclosed that Council that the President is expected 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.

Therefore , ahead of the Presidential visit, Governor, the Commissioner stated, has 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.”

Council also received a report from the Special Adviser (SA) to the Governor on Legislative Matters, on the status of Executive Bills before the State House of Assembly, who disclosed that all the twelve Executive Bills had been duly considered and passed by the House.

“Accordingly, the Governor-in-Council approved that the Speaker and the leadership of the House of Assembly be invited to the Executive Council meeting on Tuesday, 28 July 2026, for the signing into law of the Bills,” Umanah stressed.