The Akwa Ibom State Executive Council has approved the release of ₦31 billion to implement a comprehensive economic empowerment programme that will benefit 165,912 residents across the state’s 31 local government areas.
The approval followed a State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Umo Eno.
The initiative is funded under the 2026 Appropriation Law, with ₦1 billion allocated to each local government area.
The programme is designed to support youths, women, traders, farmers, transport operators and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through targeted interventions aimed at boosting entrepreneurship, creating jobs and reducing poverty.
Beneficiaries will receive support through youth skills acquisition and starter packs, women cooperative business funding, traders’ business grants, agricultural inputs, SME development initiatives and a transport empowerment scheme.
To ensure effective implementation, Governor Eno constituted a committee led by the Secretary to the State Government. The committee will develop the distribution framework and submit its recommendations to the Executive Council.
The council also approved additional measures to strengthen healthcare delivery across the state.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem Emmanuel, said the government has recruited 2,854 health workers, completed 29 Model Primary Healthcare Centres, begun upgrading 17 additional primary healthcare centres, and rehabilitated four secondary healthcare facilities.
Governor Eno also directed the immediate implementation of emergency measures to accelerate the recruitment of more medical doctors to address manpower shortages in the health sector.
According to the commissioner, the state has acquired three CT scan machines, with three more expected, alongside two MRI machines. He added that the ongoing digitisation of healthcare services is expected to improve efficiency, expand access and enhance service delivery.
As part of the healthcare reforms, the governor approved the transmission of nine health sector bills to the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
The proposed legislation covers public health security, healthcare standards and accreditation, health insurance, medical residency training, primary healthcare development, drug and health supplies management, nursing education, health sciences and technology, as well as the establishment of the Akwa Ibom State University Teaching Hospital.
The Executive Council was also informed that all 12 Executive Bills previously submitted to the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly had been passed.
Governor Eno subsequently approved the invitation of the Speaker and leadership of the House to a special Executive Council meeting scheduled for July 28, 2026, for the signing of the bills into law.
In addition, the governor endorsed the phased implementation of a solar-powered rural water scheme across the state’s 369 wards to improve access to clean and potable water in rural communities.
He directed the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation to submit a detailed proposal to the Finance and General Purposes Committee for procurement review, cost evaluation and further action.
