Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has unveiled plans for the fourth edition of the state’s flagship yuletide event, Christmas Unplugged, scheduled to commence on December 1, 2026.
The Governor disclosed this on Sunday during the September edition of the State Covenant Service held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo. He said the event remains a key part of his administration’s ARISE Agenda to promote tourism, unity and economic activity in the state.
According to him, a draw will be conducted during the State’s Variety Night on September 23 to determine the schedule for each of the 31 local government areas participating in activities at the Christmas Village. The arrangement, he explained, is to ensure fair representation and orderly participation across the state.
Governor Eno also announced that interested choirs in the state will participate in another draw to determine their performance slots at the Christmas Carols Festival. The festival has been fixed for Friday, December 18, 2026, and is expected to draw thousands of worshippers and visitors to Uyo.
Beyond the festivities, the Governor rolled out new empowerment initiatives targeted at women and grassroots communities. He said N20 million will be released in October for distribution to 200 women through cooperative societies in each ward across the state.
In addition, he disclosed that N1 billion has been earmarked for empowerment programmes in each of the 31 local government areas. The funds, he noted, are intended to support small businesses, skills acquisition and livelihood interventions at the grassroots.
On transportation, Governor Eno said the state has taken delivery of the last 10 of the 50 Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, buses procured by the government. He said the full fleet will soon commence operations.
The Governor explained that the CNG buses will connect all 31 local government areas and are projected to reduce transportation costs for commuters by about 50 per cent. The initiative, he added, is part of efforts to cushion the effect of fuel costs and improve intra-state mobility.
He urged Akwa Ibom people to take ownership of the programmes and participate actively in both the empowerment schemes and the Christmas activities.
Governor Eno reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to delivering on the ARISE Agenda, stressing that the combination of infrastructure, social welfare and cultural events is designed to make Akwa Ibom more prosperous and attractive to residents and visitors alike.
