The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel would have established several industries and key infrastructures across the state by the time he leaves office at the end of his eight-year administration in May, 2023.
The Udom administration has been , in the past seven years carrying out an industrial revolution in the state, that is impacting on the rate of employment of AkwaIbomites and stimulating economic growth.
Some of these industries would no doubt impact on national economy and be equally beneficial to some neigbouring West African countries.
Top officials of the administration, among them Secretary to the state government, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, Commissioner of Special duties, Engr. Camillus Essien Umoh and the governors Special Asistance on Sport, Paul Bassey, led some journalists to see these industrial facilities and infrastructure and the vision behind their conception and establishment.
These industries and infrastructure which the administration has eventually lined up for commissioning, this week to mark the states 35 years since its creation include the St Gabriel Coconut Oil Refinery at Mkpat Enin, Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing Industry in Onna, the Ibom Green House, which produces several farm products for local consumption and export, a New International Airport Terminal, and the Repair and Overhaul (MRO) aircraft hangar project which is about 95 per cent completed according to officials.
This is besides the Ibom Air which is making raves as one of the front line airline organisation in Africa and contributing to the Nigerian economy.
The MRO has the capacity of carrying two 747 aircraft series, eight A-220 300 series and all the CRJs, and when fully operational, will enhance the economic growth of the State.
The Hangar project will also serve both Nigerian and African continent for the repair and maintenance of their aircraft.
There are also the state-of-the-art smart Dakkada Tower, a 21-storey building that provides office space for oil and the banking industry, the reconstructed Eket 18000-seater stadium to compliment the one already constructed in the state. The Eket stadium is the site of a football field once used by Mobile Oil.
There is also the reconstructed General Hospital in Ikot Ekpene and one of the first Covid 19 testing and quarantine centre in the country and the Flour Mill Company. These are besides the construction of several roads, some of them dualized and bridges across the state. In all, over 17 key projects slated for commissioning this week to mark the 35 years of the since. Akwa Ibom was created by General Ibrahim Babangida in September 23, 1987.
The Akwa Ibom Green House company is a social intervention project that produces tomatoes and pepper which it sells at subsidized rates and hoped to raised its production level to 300 metric tonnes. The objective is to stop Akwa Ibomites from travelling distances to buy tomatoes and peppers from other parts of the country.
The Akwa Ibom hangar which will be handed over for operation in December will ultimately employ 300 workers, and be able to handle aircraft maintenance for airlines across the country. About 100 Akwa Ibomites are already working at the Hangar.
Governor Emmanuel said the Akwa Ibom new airport and the Hangar project are no smal projects to be undertaken by a state as they compare with the best in Africa.
The St Gabriel Coconut Oil Producing Factory is touted to be the biggest in Africa, and one of the 7th biggest in the world, according to officials who explained the industry when fully operational in few weeks’ times would increase the revenue of the state and the economy of the country considerably.
The Coconut Oil Factory has capacity to process one million nuts a day has been inaugurated in Ikot Akpan Okop, Mkpat Enin Local Government, Akwa Ibom State.
It has the potential to produce 66 tonnes per day and has supporting coconut plantations across the state.
The Jubilee Syringe manufacturing company has been endorsed by the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria and the Medial Association of Nigeria.
Below, Some of the Industrial Factories and Projects
