“We Are Ready to ARISE with Eno”: Chairman Inyang on Roads, Healthcare, Schools and Housing

A statement by Rt. Hon. Evangelist Edidiong Inyang, Executive Chairman, Ibesikpo Asutan LGA.

In Ibesikpo Asutan today, development is no longer something people hear about from a distance. It is visible in the roads connecting our communities, the healthcare facilities coming closer to our people, the schools being built for our children and the housing projects creating new opportunities for families and young people.

Healthcare closer to home. One intervention that gives me particular satisfaction is the development of a modern healthcare facility at Ikot Nkwo. The governor intervened before his 100 days in office, and the hospital was inaugurated before his first year. Healthcare becomes meaningful when it is available within the reach of the people; our people should not have to travel long distances before they can access quality medical attention. Bringing such facilities closer is not just about constructing a building — it is about protecting lives.

Schools for every community. In my home community of Mbierebe Akpawat, the construction of a modern primary school is an investment that will outlive the present administration. It sends an important message: no community is too small to matter.

Roads as economic lifelines. Perhaps nowhere is the transformation more evident than in road infrastructure. The commissioning of the Owot Uta–Nung Oku–Afaha Udo Eyop–Edeobom road has significantly improved connectivity and opened up communities within Ibesikpo Asutan and neighbouring local government areas. The ongoing development of the Nung Udoe–Afaha Offiong corridor, alongside other internal and feeder roads, is equally important. When a good road comes into a community, farmers can move their produce faster, traders reach markets more easily and workers spend less time struggling with transportation.

Housing and opportunity for young people. The 250-unit ARISE City Estate at Mbierebe Akpawat is another masterstroke project with significant potential. The impact goes beyond the houses themselves: the project is already creating opportunities for our young people who are participating in different aspects of the construction process. A young person who has a legitimate means of livelihood, who is learning a skill or earning an income, is less vulnerable to the negative influences that can threaten the peace and stability of our communities.

Looking ahead. We are also looking ahead to major economic and social facilities capable of changing the character of the Local Government, with finishing touches being given to the International Conference Centre and the Hotel. Ibesikpo Asutan is strategically positioned; with the right infrastructure and sustained investment, our communities can become stronger centres of commerce, housing, agriculture and other economic activities.

I also commend the Governor for strengthening the institutional capacity of local government administration through the provision of official residences for local government chairmen, which will enhance the ability to remain within our jurisdictions, respond more effectively to local needs and bring administration closer to the people.

Our position for 2027. For Ibesikpo Asutan, our position is clear: we support Governor Umo Bassey Eno for a second term. Our support transcends party affiliation. It is rooted in what we have seen and what our people have experienced — roads constructed and communities opened up, healthcare infrastructure brought closer, investment in education, and housing development with opportunities for young people. Most importantly, they have begun to feel included in the development story of Akwa Ibom State.

We believe that momentum deserves to be sustained. For Ibesikpo Asutan, we are ready to ARISE with Governor Umo Eno.