By Solomon OKPO
LAGOS, The Akwa Ibom State Government has concluded a four-day Executive Council Retreat at the Eko Hotel, Lagos, with key resolutions aimed at accelerating the delivery of Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda.
Themed “Delivering the ARISE Agenda,” the retreat brought together members of the State Executive Council and key stakeholders to assess the administration’s performance and fine-tune strategies for effective service delivery.
Briefing journalists at the end of the retreat on Thursday, the Commissioner for Information, Elder Aniekan Umanah, revealed that the Council, during an emergency meeting presided over by the Governor, approved a series of strategic initiatives.
Notably, the Council greenlighted the Ibom City Bus Project, with Alpha Diaz Ltd selected as contractor to handle both construction and post-implementation management. This move is expected to significantly improve public transportation in Uyo and its environs.
In another major development, Ratcon Construction Company Ltd was awarded the contract for the complete remodeling of the Ibom International Hotel, with a 12-month timeline for delivery.
According to Umanah, the Council also reviewed the operational status of all state-owned enterprises, endorsing a regularization of board structures and strategic divestment from select ventures to align with global business best practices.
“Council directed the Direct Labour Committee to prioritize the commissioning of completed projects under the One Project per Local Government initiative, as well as 47 other projects lined up ahead of the administration’s second anniversary in May 2025,” he added.
The Council further approved the establishment of a State Task Force on Primary Healthcare (PHC), to be chaired by the Deputy Governor. The task force will drive coordination of PHC and immunization across all 31 LGAs, working alongside development partners including WHO, UNICEF, and NPHCDA.
Terms of reference for the task force include implementing a 12-month action plan, monitoring campaign performance, advocating for increased funding, and providing quarterly updates to the Governor through the Ministry of Health.
Elder Umanah noted that the retreat featured 28 expert-led sessions focusing on leadership, economic development, governance, project delivery, and public sector reforms. The sessions aimed at deepening inter-agency coordination, enhancing accountability, and ensuring timely delivery of government projects. The retreat marks a renewed commitment by the state government to drive innovation, efficiency, and impact-driven governance as Akwa Ibom inches closer to the midpoint of Governor Eno’s administration.
