Akwa Ibom State government has said it is ready to enter into a partnership with any potential investors or organisations that would collaborate with it to turn its environmental challenges into a profitable and sustainable waste-to-wealth economy.
The State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno made this disclosure in Uyo, during a media interaction to mark his third anniversary on Saturday, May 29.
Eno, who expressed concern over the massive waste generated daily in the state and its poor handling despite huge allocations to the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency said he has long directed the agency to shop for investors in waste management.
“I have directed the State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency to let us get a company that can help us work to turn this waste into wealth.
“The day we find that company and partner with them, you will not see waste again in our state.
“We are doing so much but getting little results, I want the agency to say how much we have put into it since I became the governor of the state,” Eno said.
He, however, cautioned against indiscriminate dumping of refuse and called for proper education of the populace on the issue
On road construction, the governor disclosed that his administration has delivered over 1,348 kilometres of roads in three years, adding that the achievements are significant when compared with over 2,700 kilometres of roads delivered by the federal government within the same period
He said, “Gentlemen we have fixed 1,348 kilometres of roads in this state. Even the Federal government which is fixing 2,700 kilometres, checks the President’s broadcast.
“And if the Federal government has done 2,700 and the subnational is doing and has completed 1,348 kilometres, that subnational should be celebrated.”
The Governor said there is no government that would do all the roads in the state at the same time, noting that as old roads are being constructed or fixed new ones are being opened up.
“Let us not deceive ourselves, we will not do all the roads, there’s no government even the next one that would come and the next one that will come again until Jesus comes, no government will fix all the roads because as you are fixing, new ones are opening up but we should appreciate the fact that we are working on economically viable roads.
“There’s no Local government in the state where road contracts have not been awarded. These are verifiable things ” Eno added.
