From Mfon Ekere, Uyo
In a move to actualize his industrial policy as a means to broadening the economic base of the state and providing job opportunities for the teeming unemployed citizenry, Governor Udom Emmanuel has proposed the establishment of a coconut processing plant that would tap the vast raw material from Eastern Obolo, Ikot Abasi and Mk[at Enin axis of the state.
According to the governor, the axis has an environment conducive enough for variety of coconut species for such a viable industry.
The governor who made the disclosure during a press briefing with a cross section of media executives at Government House, said when the industry was fully operational, it would produce high quality and proven medical/food value, provide skin care and other by products for poultry and piggery feeds and for export.
Already, government has performed the ground breaking for an assembly plant and LED industry in Itu while a large shopping mall – Shoprite – would soon be established in the state. It has also revived the ailing Peacock Paint Industry in Etinan.
According to Emmanuel, investors are lining up to invest in the state as they are being attracted by world-class infrastructural facilities.
He used the occasion to commend the role of the media in deepening, projecting and defining the ethos of democratic traditions and setting development agenda for the government to follow.
Also the media has played a vital role reminding the government of its social contract to the people
While affirming that constructive criticism would further the development of democratic governance for the betterment of the people, the governor advised the media not be adversarial in its criticism, but should applaud the government when it performs well and constructively criticize when it unintentionally veer off course.
He used the occasion to highlight his achievements since he assumed office five months ago as the master/servant of the people of the state.
These include contract award for the construction of the 137km of road across the state.
The roads are dualisation of 97.7km Uyo-Etinan road, 39.4km Etinan-Ndon Eyo with two bridges and spur., 7.3km Ebekpo-Ikot Ebidang road , 3.5km Ikot Udom road with 15m span bridge in Ibiono Ibom local government area, 5km Ikot Usop-Ikot Edeghe-Ekpuk road with 30m span bridge in Mkpat Enin local government area and 5km Mkpok-Okat road in ONNA local government.
Work has also resumed on the dualisation Eket-Ibeno road, urban renewal projects within Eket township and the construction of second runway at the Ibom international airport and three collapsed bridges and internal roads in Obot Akara as well as the dualisation of Oron road and construction of 21.2 and underground drainage in Uyo and dualisation of Oron-Okobo-Uyo road.
Government has also commissioned water reticulation and headworks in Ifa Ikot Okpon in Uyo local government area and Idu in Uruan local government.
He said electricity supply has stabilized tremendously and effort was being made to ensure consumers enjoy uninterrupted power supply of electricity.
He announced that the state has been given licence by the Nigerian Electricity Regulation Company (NERC) and authorized to increase megawatts from 191 to 685 megawatts.
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