Despite high incidence of poverty and unemployment in Akwa Ibom State, one of the top oil states in Nigeria, the Udom administration is bracing to declare war on ‘’illegal’’ motor parks and markets in Uyo, the state capital.
Though the administration angrily disputed a report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) that rated the state as the second-highest in terms of unemployment in the country, it is, however, not in doubt that there is huge unemployment and mass poverty in the state.
The Udom administration claimed that the NBS report called for serious scrutiny for daring to list the big oil state as having the second-highest unemployment rate in the country.
The administration is, however, blaming the worsening traffic situation in the state capital, on illegal markets and parks.
To, therefore, checkmate this, the State Executive Council has directed Transport and Environment and Solid Minerals commissioners to ensure that traffic witnessed on different roads, during rush hours caused by illegal markets and bus stops, are cleared.
Information and Strategy Commissioner, Ini Ememobong, who announced the development after a meeting of the State Executive Council, said the meeting approved a proposal by Culture and Tourism Ministry for the 2021 Christmas village.
According to him, the proposal was approved, and the commissioner charged to ensure that this year’s edition surpasses the previous one, in all its ramifications.
Continuing, Ememobong said Trade and Investment Ministry also presented a proposal for the establishment of Ibom Youth Innovation Entrepreneurship and Leadership Development Centre, which was approved. When operational, the centre will be a one-stop learning centre on entrepreneurship and leadership for youths.
Commissioner for Environment and Solid Minerals equally presented a memo for the Adopt-A-Space initiative, where corporate bodies are to adopt and maintain public spaces for the purpose of beautification.
Ememobong further announced that the Council approved the approval for the construction of the following roads: 2.1km Ukpong Street and 2.1km Effiong Esang Street with 800M discharge drain in Oron local government area; 21.5 Km Ikot Ayan Ediene-Ikot Ntia- Urua Naira-Ikot Nseyen-Nkwot-Nung Ukim road with 45m span bridge in Ikono; Phase 2 of Nto Edino Junction-Ikot Ukpong-Mbiaso road with 45m bridge in Obot Akara and a 2.5 km Idiaba-Ibakang-Adia- Ndukpoise road in Nsit Atai and Nsit Ubium Local Government Area.
