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By Isaac Job, Uyo
A former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and former Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Obong Umanah Okon Umanah, has hailed Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE 2.0 development blueprint, saying it will usher in unprecedented economic prosperity and sustainable wealth creation for Akwa Ibom people.
Speaking with journalists in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, while reacting to the unveiling of the governor’s 2027-2031 manifesto and the inauguration of the APC Campaign Council in the state, Umanah said the development plans would lift Akwa Ibom State to another level.
He commended Eno for fulfilling his first-term social contract with the electorate.
Analysing the document from an economic standpoint, Umanah said the blueprint marked a critical shift from basic public-sector infrastructure spending to a private-sector-led, productive economy.
He said: “What excites me most about ARISE 2.0 is the deliberate structural transition from mere consumption and basic infrastructure to productivity, value addition, and capital attraction.”
“His Excellency the Governor has proven beyond reasonable doubt that he is a leader who keeps his word. Having laid a solid foundation in his first term through rural roads, agricultural support, and social welfare, this second-term agenda is designed to increase the state’s Gross Domestic Product and put real income into the pockets of everyday Akwa Ibomites,” he added.
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Umanah said anchoring the blueprint on tourism, agro-allied investments, technical skills and job creation directly addresses unemployment and over-reliance on federal allocations.
He said initiatives such as the Uyo City Centre Project, the expansion of specialist medical facilities to curb medical tourism, and the positioning of Akwa Ibom as a premier hospitality and conference destination would trigger a massive multiplier effect across the local economy.
“When you build a world-class healthcare hub and city centre, you are not just erecting physical structures; you are creating a thriving service economy. Small and medium enterprises, local artisans, transport operators, and young entrepreneurs will all benefit from the influx of visitors and foreign direct investment,” he said.
Umanah urged Akwa Ibomites at home and in the diaspora to rally behind the governor’s re-election bid, noting that economic growth thrives best in an environment of policy continuity and political stability.
“Supporting Governor Eno for a second term is a sound economic decision for Akwa Ibom State.
“The APC family is fully mobilised to ensure that this visionary blueprint moves from paper to reality for the collective prosperity of our people,” Umanah said.
