Governor Umo Eno has directed the Akwa Ibom State Investment Corporation, AKICORP to ensure immediate revitalisation of the moribund state-owned paint company, Peacock Paints.
The governor also disclosed plans to establish Ibom Oil Mineral Exploration Company to identify marginal fields and enhance active participation of the state in the oil and gas industry.
According to his Chief Press Secretary, Ekerete Udoh, the governor made these known at the EXCO Ministerial Briefing/ End of Year review held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo.
Eno explained that Akwa Ibom is rich in oil and other mineral resources, and therefore must strive to have its rightful place in the oil and gas industry.
Eno noted that given the ready market for paint in the state, especially through the various projects of government, there was urgent need to revitalise the Peacock Paints, create job opportunities and revenue for the state.
Similarly, the governor also disclosed plans to officially launch the Akwa Ibom Geographical Information System( AkwaGIS) Agency, under the Ministry of Lands and Town Planing to help in the ongoing process of digital land administration, Certificate of Occupancy and other land maters.
He noted that as a proponent of running government as a business, the 3-day EXCO Ministerial Briefing/End of Year Review was basically to look at the achievements in the past year, get some appraisal from the stakeholders and also learn from their inputs.
He commended the stakeholders for their attendance, contributions and encouraging words, and assured everyone that the state under his leadership would continue to run a transparent and an all inclusive government that is open to ideas with the determination to deliver on the ARISE Agenda for a better Akwa Ibom State.
“Let me on behalf of government and people of our dear state thank all of you our stakeholders, elders, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, organised Labour, Nigeria Union of Journalists Akwa Ibom State Council, the students, youths, and women, non indigenes communities, and residents in our dear state for your active participation.
“Let me thank you for your patience and for your worthy contributions to the things that we are doing.
“Please permit me to thank members of the enlarged Executive Council, all of the Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries for the detailed presentation of the modest achievements, challenges and future projections on their respective Ministries,” he said.
The governor said citizens’ engagement will continue in the new year with a town hall meeting across all the federal constituencies, and urged all stakeholders to prepare to participate.
“In the new year, by the grace of God, we will accelerate the pace of work, having already been scored high by our people so far. We will fill the gaps where such may have been observed or detected,” he added.
Daily Sun