From Mfon Ekefre, Uyo
The World Bank has pledged to partner Akwa Ibom State government in the area of flood erosion control in the State.
Currently the cost of checking the natural disasters has been put at N25 Billion.
Governor Udom Emmanuel disclosed this at a media parley at Banquet Hall, Uyo to brief newsmen on the programmes and activities marking the 29th anniversary of the state creation and Nigeria 56th independence anniversary celebration.
He said the state does not have the capacity for such capital-intensive project, particularly the flood along Ibrahim Babangida Avenue, Nsikak Eduok and other flood prone areas in the state capital.
He re-emphasized the need for good road network which is the area the current administration has also focused attention in order consolidate on which his predecessor had done.
In the area of education, the governor dismissed allegations gaining the rounds that the fees would again be paid in public schools. With an emphatic “no” the governor said free and compulsory education is still in existence,
Governor Emmanuel called on teachers to instil discipline and moral values into the children and lay a strong academic foundation for then knowing that they are the future leaders of the state and the nation.
He expressed disgust over the attitude of some Nigerian who patronize foreign schools to the neglect of their own.
He said some of those school abroad could not compared to Nigerian schools in term of quality and standard as well as quality service delivery by the teachers.
The governor said Akwa Ibom was one of the states that has maintained the payment of WAEC fees for its students in secondary school, pointing out that for this year alone the state has paid a total N600 million.
In the heath sector, Governor Emmanuel said despite economic down turn, children, pregnant women and the elderly were still receiving free treatment.
He said the date is also seeking partnership with some Health agencies at home and abroad in the rehabilitation of some health institutions like Iguita, Ituk Mbang, Ikot Ekpene and Ikot Abasi General Hospitals.
He said it was the determination of the present administration to ensure people are in good health condition because according to him, “health is wealth. That is why we are in a hurry to ensure that all health institution, including primary, poly clinic, cottage and tertiary hospitals.
In the agricultural sector, Governor Emmanuel called on the citizens and help in the products of food products for local consumption and for export. He said the current economic situation has necessitated the need for all hand to be on deck, and be actively involved in the diversification of the economy instead of depending on a mono economy, oil, which has failed us.
He called on them people to form themselves into cooperatives so that they can benefit from agricultural programmes put in place by the government.
In the transport sector, the governor said work was on-going in the second run way, adding that Akwa Ibom airport is one of the airports that enjoy twenty four hours to ensure smooth operation at the airport.
He explained that work was on-going in the MRO in order to carry out the purpose which it was meant.
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