Akwa Ibom Council Chair Applauds Gov. Eno for Implementing LG Autonomy
Hon. Simon Dominic Akpan, Chairman, Obot Akara Local Government Area
The Chairman of Obot Akara Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State, Hon. Simon Dominic Akpan, has commended Governor Umo Eno for implementing full local government autonomy across the state.
Reflecting on his administration’s achievements as it marks one year in office, Hon. Akpan attributed the Council’s development strides across multiple sectors to the governor’s magnanimity.
He praised Governor Eno for allowing direct allocation of funds to local government councils.
Speaking during an interview with journalists at his residence in neighbouring Ikot Ekpene LGA, Akpan listed key areas of impact over the past year, including education and scholarships, agriculture, security, empowerment, job creation, and infrastructure, particularly rural road construction.
“The governor has truly demonstrated that he is a genuine pastor and a man of conscience,” “He has shown immense goodwill by allowing funds meant for the councils to be released directly to the third tier of government. Without such resources, how else would I have executed all these projects?” Akpan stated.
On the challenges confronting his council, the chairman highlighted recurring security breaches between communities in his LGA and neighbouring villages in Abia State.
He identified troubled communities in Abia, such as Ekwereazu and Abama in the Ukwa North axis, as flashpoints that have posed security threats to border communities in Obot Akara.
To address the situation, Akpan revealed that he had initiated peace efforts, engaging clan heads and traditional rulers in both states to find lasting solutions to the recurrent skirmishes.
“In response to the insecurity, I have committed N10 million to support our local vigilante groups. So far, 60 of them have been trained and are currently collaborating with the Police to provide intelligence and security logistics,” he explained.
He further appreciated the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police for working in synergy with his council to contain security threats within the area.
In the education sector, Akpan affirmed his commitment to repositioning education as the bedrock of society.
He disclosed that the council had procured 5,000 customised exercise books to be freely distributed across all public schools in Obot Akara later this month.
“In alignment with the ARISE Agenda blueprint of Governor Umo Eno, we have been making interventions to ensure that every child has access to education. We don’t want to see any school-aged child roaming the streets during school hours,” he said.
The chairman also spoke on the council’s intervention in the health sector, implemented in collaboration with administrative heads and councilors representing various political wards in Obot Akara. A modern primary healthcare facility—aimed at serving rural residents, especially pregnant women, nursing mothers, infants, and emergency cases—is nearing completion and will soon be commissioned for public use.
“Let me thank God specifically for giving me the wisdom and knowledge to effectively lead this council, working closely with department heads and other key officials. I also enjoy a very cordial relationship with my councilors and supervisors. Without their support, the progress we’ve made in the past year would not have been possible,” he noted.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Hon. Akpan pledged unwavering support for Governor Eno’s second-term ambition.
He assured that the people of Obot Akara would remain loyal to the governor and lauded his strategic efforts to align Akwa Ibom with the national government through the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He concluded that such political realignment would attract greater federal presence to the state, thereby fostering sustainable growth and development.
