The Oron Local Government Council says its ongoing infrastructure and empowerment initiatives are aimed at consolidating peace and accelerating development in line with Governor Umo’s ARISE development agenda.

The Council Chairman, Chief Okon Asukwo Enweme, stated this on Monday when the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Akwa Ibom State Council, visited the local government as part of its assessment of development projects across the state’s 31 local government areas.

Chief Enweme said his administration had prioritised security, healthcare, education, manpower development, infrastructure and workers’ welfare, stressing that meaningful development could only thrive in an environment where lives and property are protected.

He listed some of the projects undertaken by his administration to include the construction of an ultramodern administrative building, internal roads within the council premises, landscaping and beautification of the secretariat, establishment of an ICT centre, reroofing of council blocks, acquisition of a 150KVA generating plant, installation of solar power systems, construction of town halls and rehabilitation of the legislative block.

The chairman said the administration had also placed emphasis on youth engagement and empowerment programmes as part of efforts to create opportunities, reduce vulnerability and promote peaceful coexistence.

He noted that Oron’s cosmopolitan nature made peace, inclusion and respect for all law-abiding residents critical to the sustainable development of the area.

Chief Enweme also acknowledged the contributions of the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, whom he noted had offered true leadership and helped to attract life-touching projects to the area, including the Oron Beach Jetty, among other interventions.

Chief Enweme also attributed some of the development recorded under his administration to local government financial autonomy, commending President Bola Tinubu and Governor Umo Eno for policies which, according to him, had strengthened grassroots administration.

He said, “Oron Local Government Area has a leadership. Even as the Chairman, I respect the leadership structure, giving consideration to all critical stakeholders. We have our standards here and we are sincere to the people of the local government area.”

The chairman added, “On that note, I want to say thank you to President Tinubu because autonomy has been granted to the local government areas, money has been sent, and His Excellency the Governor has never tempered with the local government fund since he came on board. This has helped ensure there is revenue enough for projects and programmes.”

Earlier, the NUJ State Chairman, Comrade Nsibiet John , said the Union’s visit was aimed at independently assessing projects and programmes executed by the council and providing the public with information on how public resources had been utilised.

Comrade John said the exercise would help address questions frequently raised by citizens concerning public expenditure and the development delivered at the grassroots.

He said the NUJ was committed to visiting all 31 local government areas, inspecting projects and documenting its findings as part of its watchdog responsibility.

The engagement ended with an inspection of selected council projects and facilities, including the newly commissioned Umo Eno Administration Block, the council secretariat beautification project, solar power installations and the Legislative Building.
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