By Solomon OKPO
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has unveiled plans to transform the reclaimed Uyo Village refuse dumpsite into a modern Government Residential Area (GRA), complete with a creative village and a housing estate, as part of deliberate efforts to reduce the state’s housing deficit and expand urban development.
Governor Eno disclosed this on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, while responding to questions from Government House Correspondents after inspecting the reclaimed dumpsite, which spans over 100 hectares, alongside a formerly ravine-prone landscape that has now been sand-filled for future development.
According to the Governor, the once-degraded environment has been fully reclaimed and mapped out for structured development, including housing, agriculture and other strategic uses, with appropriate water channels already provided.
“The truth is, with vision and foresight, we can do a lot. You won’t believe this was a terrible refuse dumpsite. Today, we have reclaimed it all, over 100 hectares of land, to be used for housing, agriculture and more,” he said.
Governor Eno explained that the ravine area would be transformed to accommodate the first phase of the Uyo GRA, comprising about 150 middle-income housing units, alongside a creative village, all linked by spur roads for seamless connectivity.
He described the project as a strategic intervention aimed at opening up previously unusable land, addressing erosion challenges and creating new development corridors for housing, agriculture and the creative industry, all within close proximity to Uyo city centre.
“This project is about reclaiming valuable land close to the city centre and deliberately deploying it for the benefit of our people,” the Governor stated.
He noted that his on-the-spot inspection was necessitated by the need to personally assess the road design and fully understand the scope of work being carried out by contractors, beyond technical presentations earlier made at his office.
Expressing satisfaction with the level of progress recorded so far, Governor Eno said the successful reclamation of the dumpsite aligns with the government’s long-term urban development policy.
He urged contractors handling government projects to adhere strictly to timelines and quality standards, stressing that the Uyo Village road and housing projects would significantly address the housing needs of middle-income earners.
“We are committed to ensuring that every square metre of this reclaimed land serves the people of Akwa Ibom,” he added.
The Governor further noted that the various infrastructural projects being executed across the state are creating substantial employment opportunities for youths and local workers. He encouraged young people to take advantage of these opportunities, emphasizing that purposeful infrastructure development remains a key driver of economic growth.
Governor Eno also highlighted that the 2026 budget of N1.584 trillion reflects the scale and ambition of the administration’s development agenda. He urged citizens to engage with the budget and leverage its opportunities, expressing confidence that Akwa Ibom State, with collective effort, can attain development standards comparable to those of global cities.
Members of the Governor’s entourage during the inspection included the Executive Assistant and Chief Delivery Advisor, Mr. Aniefiok Johnson; the Commissioner for Works, Prof. Eno Ibanga; and other top government functionaries.
