Akwa Ibom State Government says it has executed and funded 234 road, erosion-control and related intervention projects involving 40 bridges, alongside expanded investments in sports development under Governor Umo Eno.
The disclosures were made at a Ministerial Media Briefing at Akpan Isemin Hall, Government House, Uyo, covering the Ministries of Works and the ministry of Sports Development. Setting the tone, the Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, said the briefing was part of the administration’s periodic engagement with the media to account for its policies, projects and impact. He urged journalists to interrogate government figures, seek facts and provide accurate information to citizens.
Highlighting the achievements in his ministry, the Commissioner for Works, Professor Eno Ibanga, said 1,159.6 kilometres of roads had been undertaken through FGPC, direct-labour projects, while 43 RAMP projects supported by the World Bank and State counterpart funding covered about 382.83 kilometres. Prof. Ibanga said the total State government expenditure on road infrastructure since the administration assumed office was N879.22 billion naira, excluding RAMP expenditure. He said N747.51 billion naira was spent on projects initiated by the current administration, comprising N615.65 billion on FGPC projects and N131.86 billion on emergency projects, while N131.71 billion went into inherited projects.
Of 105 inherited projects funded under the administration, 47 were FGPC projects, 51 direct-labour projects and seven erosion-control, electrification and other interventions. 57 have been completed, with 15 commissioned. The administration has also initiated 129 projects, 67 FGPC, 47 direct-labour and 15 other interventions with 26 completed and 20 commissioned. On maintenance, Prof. Ibanga said 123 potholes and failed-road locations had been treated through patching and overlays, with extensive works also carried out across identified locations in Uyo metropolis. The administration, he added, targets at least 10 kilometres of roads in every local government area.
On his part, the Commissioner for Sports Development, Elder Paul Bassey, said the ministry became a standalone ministry on September 19, 2023, after its separation from the former Ministry of Youth Development and Sports. Its mandate, he said, is to discover, develop and empower grassroots talent while using sports to promote human-capital development, youth empowerment, tourism, employment and economic diversification.
Its achievements include hosting the 2025 Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival, Judiciary Games and Niger Delta Games; participating in the 2025 National Sports Festival in Abeokuta; procuring sporting equipment and creating a database of athletes’ performances and timings, amongst others.
The Commissioner said Governor Eno approved monthly allowances for performing athletes and financial rewards for medal winners, adding that the Governor also directed the ministry to explore reviving inter-school and inter-house sports for talent discovery and called for stronger private-sector participation, particularly in disciplines beyond football such as chess, boxing, swimming, wrestling, weightlifting, athletics, judo and karate.
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