By Etorobong Udo
Against the backdrop of ongoing allegations of mismanagement by some opposition politicians against Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, leaders of the Uyo Senatorial District Media Forum (USDMF) have given the governor a clean slate and hailed his achievements in three years.
Gov. Umo Eno Has Deployed A’Ibom Resources Well, Mismanagement Allegations Baseless – Group
Addressing journalists on Tuesday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the Chairman, Amb. Emmanuel Ndon and Secretary, Hon. Itorobong Umoh, said the speculation of financial mismanagement is baseless and that renewed calls for the governor to “come and give account” amount to a display of ignorance about how modern, transparent governance works.
According to the group, accountability in Akwa Ibom State is institutionalized through regular briefings, published reports, digital platforms, and independent monitoring mechanisms.
The Uyo Senatorial District Media Practitioners Forum therefore warned against any renewed attempt to politicize governance, spread misinformation, or derail the momentum of progress in Akwa Ibom State.
Gov. Umo Eno Has Deployed A’Ibom Resources Well
The group maintained that evidence of projects is visible in every community and urged citizens, stakeholders, and the media to focus on facts, support the consolidation of the ARISE Agenda, and resist distractions that serve no public interest.
They added: “Akwa Ibom is working. The administration has earned the confidence of those of us who have followed it closely from day one, and it deserves the support of all Akwa Ibom people to finish strong and deliver even more.”
“We have been with this administration from inception. For three years, we have attended its briefings, visited project sites, listened to stakeholders across the 31 local government areas, and scrutinized its records. After this review, we state without hesitation that Governor Umo Eno’s three-year performance index is satisfactory, and the resources of Akwa Ibom State are being deployed prudently and productively under the ARISE Agenda.”
Reeling out some of the major achievements of the governor, the group said its assessment is based on verifiable delivery across every sector of government, stressing that the administration has moved beyond rhetoric to measurable outcomes.
According to them, in agriculture, the Ibom Model Farm has been expanded alongside the ARISE Home Farms Scheme and the Back-to-Farm Initiative, drawing more citizens into productive agriculture. Over 750,000 cocoa seedlings, 700,000 oil palm seedlings, and 150,660 bundles of cassava cuttings have been distributed to farmers. Grants have reached over 200 farmers, and the Ibom Equipment Leasing Facility has opened access to mechanised equipment, among others.
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Rural development has also received attention. The 11km Owot Uta Nung Oku Ekere–Afaha Udoeyop–Edeobom–Utuat Market Junction road has been flagged off, a solar-powered water scheme commissioned in Ini LGA, and wet markets established in Oruk Anam and other locations. Over 16,000 beneficiaries have received farm inputs through community associations. The fisheries sector has been strengthened with a protection unit, patrol boats, and equipment for fishing cooperatives. About 5,000 kilometres of rural roads have been digitised, 202.2 kilometres awarded, and three agro-logistics hubs, one in each senatorial district, are under construction.
The group further highlighted the performance of the administration in the health sector, where Ibom International Hospital is under construction within the emerging Ibom Medical City, alongside pharmaceutical and diagnostic facilities, among others. The education sector, they said, has been repositioned for global competitiveness with fully equipped model primary and secondary schools deployed across local government areas, and the College of Education upgraded to Akwa Ibom State University of Education.
Infrastructure delivery, according to the group, has been unprecedented, with over 1,300 kilometres of roads and more than 40 bridges initiated and completed.
The same milestones, according to the group, apply to the security architecture of the state, human capital development and empowerment, aviation sector, culture and tourism, power sector, Ibom Deep Seaport, humanitarian interventions, and fiscal management.
The group further highlighted that information management, transportation, youth development, sports, women affairs, and science and digital economy have also recorded significant gains.
“From the digitization of AKBC and the civil service to the procurement of 50 CNG buses, establishment of youth development centres in all 31 LGAs, hosting of the Akwa Ibom Sports Festival, support for over 430 children in government homes, and the launch of AKWAGIS for land digitisation, every sector reflects intentional investment in people and systems,” they added.
Speaking on security and safety in the state, the group averred that the security architecture has been repositioned to guarantee peace and investor confidence.
A stand-alone Ministry of Internal Security and Waterways was created, Ibom Community Watch was deployed across communities, and gunboats and patrol vehicles were acquired for rapid response.
