Just in the meantime, the State Governor, Umo Eno at the Akwa Ibom State Executive Council (SEC), took a bold step to fast-track development by approving a whopping ₦695 billion supplementary budget, and declaring a State of Emergency on the health sector.

The landmark decisions were reached at the meeting by the Governor on Friday September 12, 2025 to bring more life to the ailing heath sector and other sectoral decay.

A case in point, is the delapidated Cottage Hospital at Ikot Ekpaw in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, where snakes and reptiles are currently having field day.

Observation by this Reporter revealed that, patients who hitherto patronized the facility decided to travel as far as Etinan or Ekparakwa in Oruk Anam as the case may be for medical emergencies.

The worst hit are children and women undergoing antenatal care, who at times cannot access any medical help due to dearth of infrastructure/medical facilities and no personnel at the hospital.

The condition of the Cottage Hospital is extremely bad that, the Governor need to visit these places to avail himself with the State of affairs of some public hospitals in the State to guide budgetary approvals and the implementation of his ARISE Agenda.

Governor Eno, who also charged Council members to redouble their commitment to the ARISE Agenda, said the new measures would reposition Akwa Ibom for sustainable growth, while addressing pressing socio-economic needs.

He said, “Our people deserve quality healthcare, better infrastructure, and a government that responds swiftly to emerging challenges. This supplementary budget and healthcare emergency will give us the tools to deliver on our promises,” the Governor declared.

On the ₦1.65 Trillion Revised Budget – Governor Umo Eno said, the supplementary budget raises the 2025 appropriation from ₦955 billion to ₦1.65 trillion, while the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) stands at ₦1.7 trillion, in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Law.

According to the Council, the additional funding will cover implementation of the new minimum wage, allowances for NYSC members, emergency flood and erosion control, as well as completion of ongoing projects affected by inflation.

Other priority areas include; procurement of Ibom CNG Mass Transit buses, development of the ARISE Shopping City, renovation of the State House of Assembly complex, construction of new housing estates, and the acquisition of new aircraft.

Governor Eno also noted that, the newly created Ministries of Sports, Digital Economy, Humanitarian Services, and the Bureau of Rural Development and Cooperatives will also benefit from the expanded budgetary provisions.

Having weight all the options on improving the well-being of the people of the State beyond the present, the governor without further delay declared a health sector emergency.

Perhaps the most significant outcome of the Council meeting was the declaration of a “State of Emergency” on healthcare explaining that, the decision followed a comprehensive review of the State’s healthcare roadmap, which revealed the need for urgent reforms to improve efficiency and accessibility.

Key interventions under the emergency regime include; the upgrade of medical facilities across the State, recruitment of 2,000 healthcare workers (with VIN requirements waived), training and re-training of professionals, and the engagement of retired but willing medical personnel on contract basis.

Health training institutions are also to be upgraded to produce more skilled manpower, and the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem Emmanuel John, assured that the reforms would bring lasting improvements:

According to him, “We are determined to close the gaps in manpower, facilities, and service delivery. This emergency response is not just timely, it is life-saving.”

Residents Akwa Ibom have also welcomed the move. Mrs. Mfon Etim, a trader in Uyo who commended the cherry news of the governor said, the healthcare declaration was a relief to those below the middle class as it would afford them opportunity to access improved health care services.

“Many families like mine struggle to access affordable treatment. If the government truly delivers on this, it will save lives and reduce suffering.”

Another very important development that took center State at the meeting was the “Digital Reforms in Revenue and Land Management”.

In furtherance to strengthening governance, Council fixed October 15, 2025, for the launch of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and Akwa Ibom Geographic Information System (AKWAGIS).

While TSA is expected to boost internally generated revenue by blocking leakages, and enhancing transparency through automation, AKWAGIS will revolutionize land management with seamless digitization, enabling instant issuance of Certificates of Occupancy (C of O).

Last week’s Council decisions however, underscored Governor Eno’s determination to accelerate reforms across key sectors, with health and infrastructure topping the agenda.

As Akwa Ibom inches towards the last quarter of the year, the new budgetary provisions and healthcare emergency regime are expected to provide the much-needed momentum for the government’s transformation drive.