Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, has unveiled his second-term development blueprint tagged ARISE Agenda 2.0, with an ambitious Uyo City Centre Project as the flagship infrastructure initiative to redefine the state’s capital and drive economic transformation from 2027 to 2031.
The governor presented the comprehensive manifesto on Friday at the prestigious Banquet Hall of ARISE Palm Resort, Uyo, during a colourful and well-attended ceremony that also featured the inauguration of the Akwa Ibom State Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Addressing a mammoth crowd of party leaders, stakeholders, traditional rulers, youth groups, women leaders and supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Governor Eno said ARISE 2.0 is designed to consolidate, expand and deepen the achievements recorded under the first phase of the ARISE Agenda which has been in implementation since May 29, 2023.
According to the governor, the new development plan is anchored on the five pillars of Agricultural Revolution, Rural Development, Infrastructural Renaissance, Security and Good Governance, and Education and Socio-Economic Advancement, with measurable targets, timelines and deliverables for the next four years.
Governor Eno explained that ARISE 2.0 is not just a political document but a well-researched, people-centred and result-oriented roadmap that builds on the successes of ARISE 1.0, while introducing bold, innovative and transformative initiatives aimed at positioning Akwa Ibom as a leading state in agriculture, infrastructure, tourism and industrial development in Nigeria.
Under the Agricultural Revolution and Food Security pillar, the governor said his administration has made significant progress in repositioning agriculture as a major economic driver, and the second phase will focus on scaling up interventions such as the Ibom Model Farm, Back-to-Farm Initiative, ARISE Home Farms Scheme and the Equipment Leasing Facility.
He said ARISE 2.0 will prioritise large-scale, mechanised and commercial farming, expansion of oil-palm plantations and other tree crops, development of agro-processing and value addition, improved access to affordable agricultural financing, deployment of modern technology, and strengthening of farmer cooperatives and clusters across the 31 local government areas.
The administration also plans to complete and fully operationalise the pilot Ibom Model Farm currently under development and replicate the model in the two other senatorial districts of the state, namely Eket and Ikot Ekpene, to ensure even agricultural development and massive food production for local consumption and export.
Presenting the scorecard of ARISE 1.0 in the agricultural sector, the governor’s manifesto indicated that five out of six key objectives set at the inception of the administration have been substantially achieved, including improved extension services, input distribution, youth participation in agriculture and partnerships with development agencies.
Among the notable achievements highlighted was the distribution of 620,000 improved oil-palm seedlings to farmers across the 31 local government areas of the state, establishment of the Ibom Equipment Leasing Facility to support mechanised farming, and disbursement of agricultural grants and inputs to thousands of smallholder farmers and cooperative societies.
On Rural Development and Community Prosperity, the second pillar of the ARISE Agenda, Governor Eno said his administration has touched the lives of rural dwellers through the ARISE Compassionate Homes Programme, under which about 500 fully furnished two-bedroom bungalows have been built and handed over to the most vulnerable citizens in various communities.
In addition to the housing intervention, the administration said it has constructed hundreds of kilometres of rural access roads, bridges linking farming communities, solar-powered water facilities, and implemented various economic empowerment schemes and social protection programmes that have improved living standards in rural areas.
For ARISE 2.0, Governor Eno pledged to scale up the Compassionate Homes initiative to 1,000 houses spread across wards in the state, and to construct 310 kilometres of rural roads, with a target of 10 kilometres in each of the 31 local government areas to open up the hinterlands and boost rural economy.
The manifesto further promises expanded access to potable water, reliable electricity, quality healthcare, quality education, and other essential social amenities, while strengthening ward-level cooperatives, supporting rural enterprises, and promoting community-driven development to reduce rural-urban migration and enhance prosperity.
Under the Infrastructural Renaissance pillar, the third leg of the ARISE Agenda, the administration presented an impressive scorecard of 1,515 kilometres of road projects executed across the state, including inherited projects completed and new ones initiated by the present administration, at a reported cost of N934.33 billion, excluding RAAMP interventions.
The scorecard also indicated that 43 bridges have been constructed to connect communities and ease transportation, while 6,386 out of 6,441 approved solar-powered streetlights have been installed, representing 95 per cent completion, with a significant transition from diesel-powered to solar-powered lighting across major roads and streets.
According to the manifesto, the transition from diesel-powered to solar-powered streetlights has resulted in a 78.7 per cent reduction in monthly diesel consumption, saving huge costs for the state government, reducing carbon emissions, and improving environmental sustainability in line with global climate change adaptation strategies.
Other major achievements highlighted under infrastructure include the completion of the new terminal building at Victor Attah International Airport, introduction of the Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, Mass Transit Scheme to reduce transportation costs, and commencement of the Oron Maritime Infrastructure Development Project to boost water transportation and blue economy.
For the next phase from 2027 to 2031, Governor Eno proposed the construction of an additional 310 kilometres of rural roads in the 2027 budget, alongside comprehensive road and bridge expansion across urban centres, improved infrastructure maintenance culture, enhanced digital connectivity, and ambitious urban renewal programmes across the state.
A major highlight of the infrastructure vision for ARISE 2.0 is the proposed Uyo City Centre Project, which the governor presented as the signature, flagship and defining initiative of his second term, aimed at transforming the state capital into a modern, smart, commercial, tourism and transportation hub comparable to major cities in Africa.
The project, which is strategically situated around the busy intersection of Wellington Bassey Way, Oron Road, Aka Road and Ikot Ekpene Road in the heart of Uyo, is designed to integrate a two-level roundabout system, an elevated flyover, a CNG bus terminal, and dedicated bays for taxis, minibuses and other commercial vehicles to decongest traffic.
The Uyo City Centre will also feature the iconic Ibom Plaza, anchored by a proposed City Tower and Ibom Mall, with expansive commercial, recreational, hospitality and public spaces designed to attract private investors, stimulate business activities, promote nightlife, and create thousands of direct and indirect jobs for Akwa Ibom people.
The proposed City Tower, which is inspired by the Akwa Ibom State Coat of Arms, is expected to incorporate unique architectural features that represent the state’s oil and gas heritage, cultural identity, coastal resources, agricultural wealth and the hospitality of its people, making it a major tourist attraction and symbol of pride.
In the area of Security and Good Governance, the fourth pillar, the ARISE 1.0 scorecard highlighted the establishment of a standalone Ministry of Internal Security and Waterways, a state-of-the-art Security Command and Control Centre, Ibom Community Watch, Security Trust Fund, and strategic security installations and facilities across the state.
Other security interventions implemented include the procurement and deployment of patrol vehicles and 14 gunboats for waterways security, integration of 2,272 village youth presidents into the state’s security architecture, enhanced intelligence sharing, and improved welfare and logistics for security agencies operating in the state.
Building on these foundations, ARISE 2.0 proposes statewide surveillance through deployment of security cameras, scanners and other technology-driven systems across the 31 local government areas, as well as stronger intelligence gathering, enhanced inter-agency collaboration, rapid-response capabilities and community policing to sustain peace.
On Education and Socio-Economic Advancement, the fifth pillar, the administration reported the construction and establishment of 35 Model Primary Schools across the state, exceeding the original ARISE 1.0 target of 10 schools, alongside the sustenance of free and compulsory education from primary to secondary school level.
The manifesto further highlighted the payment of N778.9 million for examination-related costs covering 48,797 candidates sitting for WAEC, NECO and NABTEB, as well as disbursement of N1.69 billion as educational bursaries and grants to 25,527 students of Akwa Ibom origin in tertiary institutions across the country.
In youth development and empowerment, the administration cited its monthly N50,000 support programme, which has benefited more than 29,618 young people since its commencement in October 2024, and the establishment of 31 Youth Development Centres, one in each local government area, to train and mentor youths.
It also highlighted the training of over 1,800 youths through Ibom-LED, with beneficiaries receiving N750,000 business grants upon completion, and 2,661 beneficiaries trained under the Directorate of Agricultural Services and Commercial Development, DASAC, each receiving N1 million grant to start or expand their businesses.
The manifesto also referenced the creation of 8,854 public-sector jobs and thousands of other direct and indirect employment opportunities across education, the civil service, healthcare, technical and vocational sectors, as part of efforts to tackle unemployment and engage the productive energies of Akwa Ibom youths.
Under ARISE 2.0, the administration intends to deepen investments in technical, vocational and digital skills acquisition, strengthen education-to-employment pathways, promote innovation and entrepreneurship, support startups, and develop Destination Akwa Ibom as a leading tourism and hospitality destination in West Africa.
The healthcare sector also featured prominently, with the manifesto highlighting the construction of 31 Primary Healthcare Centres, one in each local government area, completion and commissioning of the General Hospital, Ukanafun, and ongoing construction of the General Hospital, Ibiono Ibom to improve access to quality healthcare.
Other health achievements include establishment of three medical oxygen production plants with combined capacity of 240 cylinders daily, employment of 2,854 healthcare workers including doctors, nurses and other professionals, and expansion of the Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance Scheme to 248,000 beneficiaries across more than 400 accredited facilities.
For the next four years, Governor Eno expressed ambition to reposition Akwa Ibom as a regional healthcare hub through expanded specialist services, improved healthcare financing, technology-driven service delivery, and sustained investment in medical infrastructure including Ibom Medical Village and the planned 350-bed Ibom International Hospital.
Also speaking at the historic event, President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, expressed confidence in Governor Eno’s leadership and development direction, urging Akwa Ibom people to support his re-election, saying the future of Akwa Ibom and its children is secured under his leadership, while the Campaign DG, Chief Assam Assam, SAN, also canvassed support for the governor’s second term bid.
