…as poverty, hunger threaten lives in A’Ibom
Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Culture and Tourism has defended a Capital Estimates of N7.7 billion for execution of programmes in 2025.
Presenting the Capital Estimates at the weekend before the 2025 Capital Estimates Bilateral Committee, sitting in the Ministry of Economic Development, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Sir Charles Udoh, said, the policy thrust of the 2025 Capital Estimates is the development of tourism in the state as critical sector, for revenue generation and foreign exchange earnings, as enshrined in the ARISE Agenda.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs.Grace Akpan, the Commissioner listed programmes enlisted for execution in the 2025 fiscal year to include: Celebration of Christmas Unplugged 3.0; Equipping of the Ministry’s Library with books and book shelves; Publication of Tourism Diary and Tourists Guide; Perimeter Fencing of the Unity Park and Construction of Theme Park at the ARISE Park.
Others are: the Development of Ikot Abasi Tourism hub; Development of Nwaniba Tourism Hub; Development of Mary Slessor Heritage; Development of Obio Ubium heritage shrine, and Relocation of Raffia City Market to a permanent location.
Earlier, the Commissioner had disclosed the positive performance of the year 2023 capital budget, which culminated into the successful celebration of the Christmas Unplugged season 1.0 and the 16th edition of the Christmas Carol Festival as well as the successful maintenance of the Ibom Unity Park and the Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort.
He said other achievements of the past year included: the high bar raised in tourism through the Christmas Unplugged season one, which won Akwa Ibom the most Tourism Friendly State in Nigeria and Governor Umo Eno, the Tourism Governor of the Year 2023.
Present at the budget defense included the Director of Administration, Mr. Mfon Udokang, Director of Tourism, Mrs. Christie Enoch, Director of Culture, Mrs. Comfort Anwana, HOD, Arts, Dr. Iniobong Umotong, and HOD, PRS, Mr. Imo Udoekpo.
Meanwhile, a socio-economic group, Social Justice Vanguard (SJV) has described the state government as a misplaced priority and an eloquent expression of insensitivity in view of the alarming cost of living in the state.
President of the group, Obong Celestine Akpabio, however, appreciated the state governor for the brilliant and unifying tourism projects last Christmas and for emerging the tourism governor of the year, but noted with dismay that such spending in tourism, when majority of the citizen can hardly have three square meals a day, cast a bold question on the responsibility and sensitivity of the state government on the plight and predicament of Akwa Ibom people.
”If such money is invested into garri and rice production with the abundant land and fertile soil we have, it will go a long way in alleviating the high cost of living in the state.
“I appreciate Governor Umo Eno for his exceptional leadership prowess, but his political surroundings are not friendly, with his political philosophy he has no food advisers”, he said.
