January 03, (THEWILL) – The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. (Obongemem) Ekperikpe Ekpo, has hailed the leadership style of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, describing it as a unifying approach that has fostered collaboration between the state and federal governments.
Speaking during a media chat over the Christmas holiday, Ekpo emphasised that Governor Eno’s inclusive governance has bridged political divides, creating an atmosphere of peace and progress in the state.
According to the minister, this synergy has been instrumental in reviving dormant projects and attracting multimillion-dollar investments to Akwa Ibom in the last year.
Highlighting key achievements, Ekpo revealed that the state secured a deal with Jindal Group to offtake 450 million metric standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd) of natural gas.
This commitment will facilitate a $4 billion investment in a 10 million tonnes per annum Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI) steel plant at the Ibom Solutions Hub Industrial Park (ISHIP), a free trade zone in the state.
He also pointed to a historic agreement between BFI Group and China National Chemical Engineering Corporation to revive the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria in Ikot Abasi.
The deal includes the rehabilitation of a 135 MMscfd gas processing plant, enabling ALSCON to produce up to 300,000 tonnes of aluminum annually, thus restoring a critical industrial asset and creating jobs for locals.
Additionally, Ekpo noted the partnership between 3W Alliance Limited and the Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority to develop an international industrial park at the Liberty Free Trade Zone in Ikot Abasi.
The project promises state-of-the-art infrastructure, including power and water facilities, natural gas pipelines, internal roads, warehouses, and residential estates, leveraging the state’s abundant gas resources to drive industrial growth, technology transfer, and skills acquisition.
The minister also assured that the 20,000 metric tonnes Windek Energy LPG depot at Atabrikang Aquaha in Ibeno, attracted to the state last year, will become a major source of revenue and employment upon completion.
As a call for unity, Ekpo urged Akwa Ibom residents to embrace peace and love in the new year, emphasizing that the collective development of the state transcends political affiliations.
Eno, a former pastor who recently earned a doctorate in Public Administration from the University of Uyo, has consistently urged his political supporters to set aside partisan differences and focus on governance.
“Politics is over. This is the time for governance,” the governor often says, underscoring his vision for a united Akwa Ibom State.
