Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has announced plans to develop major state-owned hospitality and housing projects in Abuja, as part of a broader strategy to reposition public assets, boost revenue generation and strengthen ties with Akwa Ibom indigenes living outside the state.
Governor Eno disclosed this on Sunday during a visit to the general meeting of the Akwa Ibom Community in Abuja, where he reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to inclusive development under the ARISE Agenda.
According to the Governor, the state government plans to transform the moribund Akwa Ibom liaison office in Abuja into the Ibom Hotels and Apartments Project, a modern hospitality and commercial hub designed to create jobs and generate sustainable income for the state.
He also revealed plans for an Ibom Housing Estate in Abuja, aimed at providing decent and affordable accommodation for Akwa Ibom indigenes resident in the Federal Capital Territory.
“The Abuja liaison office has remained largely underutilised for years. Our plan is to convert it into a viable asset that will work for the people, create employment and add value to the state’s economy,” Eno said.
The Governor used the occasion to highlight the scope of his administration’s development efforts, stressing that the ARISE Agenda goes beyond road construction.
While noting that over 1,210 kilometres of roads are being constructed across the state, he disclosed that the government is currently implementing 84 priority projects spanning tourism, transportation, aviation, maritime development, healthcare, education, rural development, housing, water supply and economic empowerment.
“Our development drive is holistic. Beyond roads, we have deliberately focused on projects that directly touch lives and strengthen communities across Akwa Ibom State,” he said.
In his remarks, President of the Akwa Ibom Community in Abuja, Nkpisong Barrister Gabriel Fan, commended Governor Eno for what he described as visible and people-focused development under the ARISE Agenda.
He announced the decoration of the Governor as Grand Patron of the Community, in recognition of his leadership and commitment to the welfare of Akwa Ibom people at home and in the diaspora.
Fan also pledged the community’s support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Governor Umo Eno ahead of the 2027 general elections.
As part of his visit, Governor Eno donated an 18-seater bus to the Akwa Ibom Community in Abuja to support its activities, a gesture that was warmly received by members.
He praised the community’s leadership for fostering unity and maintaining strong links with developments in the state, noting that Akwa Ibom indigenes in Abuja remain critical stakeholders in the state’s growth and development.
Community members, in turn, lauded the Governor’s inclusive leadership style and people-centred governance, assuring him of their continued support.
The visit reinforced the administration’s resolve to deepen engagement with the Akwa Ibom diaspora while expanding the state’s economic presence beyond its borders, particularly in the nation’s capital.
