Diasporans Identify Reasons For Rapid Development (Posted: January 10, 2010)

By Essien Ndueso
S/A to AKS Commissioner for Information
08039529226

Akwa Ibom indigenes in the Diaspora on a fact finding mission in the state have attributed the pace of development so far witnessed to the appointment of committed persons and provision of an effective monitoring process in the execution of the projects.

Barr. Ata Ikiddeh who led an 8-man team from Europe and America on a fact finding mission to the state disclosed this when the team was met with the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Umana Okon Umana in his office.

Barr. Ikiddeh said they were shocked by the massive transformation the state has undergone in barely two years of Governor Akpabio�s Administration. He said going by the pace of infrastructural development in the state, Akwa Ibom is poise to overtake the rest of the nation in the nearest future.

He said the team was in the state on a fact finding mission and has visited various projects across the state and is impressed with the amount and quality of projects carried out by this administration.

Ikiddeh stated that at various projects sites visited, they were impressed with the standard of job delivery and the availability of effective supervision on the projects.

"for example when we arrived at the Use Ikot Amama � Okoita road, we were amazed to see the Commissioner for Works, Don Etim who told us that he was on a routine inspection visit", Barr. Ikiddeh said.

The team commended the State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Aniekan Umanah for painstakingly guiding them around the entire state to under study the achievements of Governor Akpabio in the State.

While commending Commissioner Umanah on his efforts in getting people acquainted on the strides of Governor Akpabio, they pledged own their own part to also document and publish what they have seen in the State.

They called on the state government to ensure the provision for maintenance process to ensure the sustainability of these projects and also requested the creation of a Diaspora Commission which will be an avenue for indigenes in the Diaspora to work with the state government in achieving its numerous goals.

He said there are a whole lot of Akwa Ibom indigenes in the Diaspora who are professionals in their different fields who are willing to work with the state government whenever they are called upon.

In his response, the Secretary of the State Government, Mr. Umana Umana, said Governor Akpabio led administration of Akwa Ibom State is committed to making Akwa Ibom a leader in Nigeria.

He said with the massive infrastructure such as the Ibaka Deep Seaport, Airport with MRO facilities, Steady power supply through the Independent Power Plant, good road networks, there is no doubt that Akwa Ibom will be a preferred destination and a reference point in the nearest future.

Mr. Umana called on the Akwa Ibom indigenes in the Diaspora to take advantage of the relative peace and warm inter-ethnic relationship ion the state to draw investors from abroad to the state. He said the state government welcomes any suggestions that will help it to do better.

He said the administration of Chief Godswill Akpabio is passionate about developing and turning the state around that is why he has invested so much in health care services, renovation and rehabilitation of schools, provision of portable drinking water, rural electricity and other projects that has impacted positively on the lives of Akwa Ibom people.

Mr. Umana pointed out that the state government did not receive the fact finding team to come in and rate or score the administration, but to ensure the serious involvement of indigenes residing abroad, in the governance process in the State.

The SSG stressed that with their experience in the state, the indigenes residing outside the country can contribute through the offer of suggestions to assist the government to do better than it is doing.

Mr. Umana insisted that for over 20 years, the state infrastructure was in a comatose making it difficult to attract investors, adding that with the provision of these infrastructure by the present administration, Akwa Ibom was on the way to leading other states in the country.