Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has said the construction of official residences for local government chairmen across the state is aimed at bringing governance closer to rural communities and making council administration more responsive.
Eno stated this on Friday while commissioning the newly completed Chairman’s Lodge at Ukana, Ikot Ongwo, in Ukana West 2, Essien Udim Local Government Area.
Represented at the event by the State Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Envoy Nsentip Akpabio, the governor said the initiative was designed to ensure that council chairmen live within the areas they administer and remain accessible to the people.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Frank Archibong, said the Chairman’s Lodges were being constructed across the 31 local government areas as part of the administration’s effort to strengthen grassroots governance.
Archibong described the Essien Udim facility as a standard official residence equipped to combine accommodation, administrative, security and protocol functions.
He listed the facilities at the lodge to include furnished living and sleeping areas, dining and kitchen spaces, guest rooms, reception and meeting areas, security facilities, recreational space, parking areas, power and water infrastructure, service quarters and perimeter fencing.
The Executive Chairman of Essien Udim Local Government, Ntiedo Usoro, thanked the governor for providing the council with a befitting official residence and commended the administration for its development initiatives in the area.
Also speaking, Akpabio called on the people of Essien Udim to sustain their support for the state government, while commending the administration’s emphasis on peace and unity.
Other speakers, including the member representing Essien Udim State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Prince Ukpong Akpabio II; Commissioner for Transport, Anthony Luke; former council chairman, Nse Ntuen; youth and women representatives, and the Paramount Ruler of Essien Udim, Obong Cosmas Akpan, represented at the event, also commended the governor’s development programmes.
The contractor, Engr. Enobong Patrick, said the project reflected the administration’s development efforts at the grassroots and thanked the governor for entrusting him with its construction.
The commissioning was attended by members of the State Executive Council, local government chairmen, traditional rulers, political leaders, former council chairmen, youths, women and other stakeholders.
