AKSG To Commence Federal Constituency Town Hall Meeting February

…. Inaugurates Solar-powered Water Scheme In Ini
By Bassey Nkponam
INI
In its avowed commitment to ensuring citizens’ participation in governance and budgeting processes, the Akwa Ibom government is commencing a town hall meeting on federal constituency basis in the State in February 2025.
  The state governor, Pastor Umo Eno, who announced this on Wednesday at the inauguration of a solar-powered water scheme in Ogu-Itu Mbonuso, in Ini Local Government Area, said the town hall meeting will offer citizens the opposite of to air their views, mention their needs and nominate projects they desire in their federal constituencies.
  Eno said government will, at the meeting, listen to the people, their issues, and the citizens’ engagement nominated projects and offer them the opportunity to make inputs into the state budget.
  He assured that the government, under his watch, is committed to operating as much as practically possible a transparent government where every facet of the State should be involved, as shown in the distribution and spread of projects across the State.
  “We feel that government belongs to everybody, and I belief that as much as practically possible, people should enjoy government and feel the impact of government.”
  Inaugurating the water scheme with reticulation network across the six villages of the Ogu community, Eno said the water project was a fulfilment of his campaign promise to provide the people of Ini with potable water, thereby taking them out from decades-long lack of potable water.
  He saw the project as being significantly in line with his commitment to leaving lasting impact on the lives of the people as his administration’s major legacy and announced the appointments of Owoidighe Udo Uyuho and Afia Princewill Okon as his personal assistants on Works, to oversee the maintenance of the water infrastructure.
  The state chief executive officer thanked the people of Ogu for standing by and believing in his capacity during the election, saying, “it is a promise made. You have kept your part by voting for us massively, and I have come to keep my own part too. Election should be a give and take. It is not just about money. It is about the project and value you can bring to your community so that everyone can benefit”.
  He described Ini as the rice belt and key player in the agricultural sector of the State and deserving of an all-season reliable water source, recalling that the water scheme was initiated in response to the yearnings of the people during his campaigns, as was presented by stakeholders of the community, assuring of water supply at the Ini General Hospital and select road projects in the local government area.
  Eno urged communities who have benefitted from government projects to ensure the protection and maintenance of the facilities for the general good of the people, and announced approval of the recruitment of two youths from each of the 2,272 Akwa Ibom villages into the State’s community-based security outfit, the Ibom Community Watch, to work with youth leaders and village councils for such purposes.
  The governor directed the replacement of the dilapidated Ogu town hall with a befitting community centre, under the Compassionate Home Scheme, in addition to the already built and delivered homes within Ini Local Government Area.
  Giving an overview of the project, the commissioner for water resources and sanitation, Mrs. Enobong Mbobo, lauded Governor Eno’s determination towards ensuring a new lease of life to the people of Itu Mbonuso, despite the challenging terrain of the area.
  Mbobo explained that the facility, with 620 ft depth, 36,000 gallons overhead storage and reticulation span across six villages, was finished with a standard treatment plant to filter and regulate the PH scale of the water, in addition to 25 years guaranteed pump and a solar system for continued power supply.
  Speaking separately at the event, stakeholders in the area, including the member representing Ini State Constituency in the House of Assembly, Mr. Lawrence Udoide, former chairman of Ini Local Government Council, Mr. Inibeghe Umah, political leader of Ini, Professor Ini Udoka, clan head of Itu Mbonuso, High Priest Joshua Iseh, chairman of Ogu Community Leadership Forum, Mr. Ime Etim and Dr Elisha Attai, who led the push for the water scheme, described the water scheme as life salvaging for the people who have suffered various diseases due to lack of potable water, difficulty in getting water for their domestic use and farm irrigation for decades.