… says A’Ibom worthy of emulation

Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, has applauded the audacious investments in human capital development by Governor Umo Eno in Akwa Ibom State, saying he is worthy of emulation.

In his speech at the launch of the ARISE Human Capital Development Strategic Plan held at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Uyo, Vice President Shettima noted that investment in human capital development surpasses every form of investment.

“That is why I commend Akwa Ibom, not only for your outstanding performance, but for daring to dream bigger.

“With an under-five mortality rate of 80, compared to the national average of 110, and with only 3.5% of primary school-age children out of school—far below the national average of 25.6%—your state is not merely compliant with our national vision. You are ahead of the curve. And I assure you, the federal government stands ready to partner hand-in-hand with you.

“This is the Governor in whom the President has a lot of confidence.

“Let me therefore commend the Governor and his team for not only adopting the HCD framework but localising its operation and placing people at the center of public policies. This is leadership, this is what it means to govern with vision, foresight and commitment.”

The Vice President said the National Human Capital Development Programme, which has entered its second phase, is a solution re-engineered to meet the moment.

“At its core, HCD 2.0 is about integration and impact. It is built on the foundation of HCD 1.0, but goes further to incorporate cross-cutting themes. What has brought us together in Uyo—the launch of the ARISE Human Capital Development Strategy by His Excellency, Governor Umo Eno—is a template for each state of the federation. It’s a strategy that acknowledges that we can’t build an enduring castle without a solid foundation.

“What Akwa Ibom State has shown us here isn’t just progress, it is leadership. It has become the first state in the nation to localise the HCD vision in its truest form. While other states have a strategy tailored towards the state, Akwa Ibom has taken a step forward by adopting the strategies in all local government areas.

“We cannot solve what we do not measure. This is why we have launched the HCD Dashboard to monitor these indicators at both state and local levels with precision. We are deploying data not for reports, but for results.

“I urge every governor to learn from the example set by His Excellency, Governor Umo Eno. There’s no legacy that surpasses that of building our people. There’s no monument that would outlive the legacies of health, education, and opportunity,” he said.

Earlier in his remark, Governor Umo Eno saluted the Vice President for the great work done in putting together the building blocks of the ARISE Human Capital Development and Local Government HCD Implementation Roadmap and Strategic Plan, and also leading frontally towards its implementation and delivery.

He also appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for making Human Capital Development a major focal area of his Renewed Hope Agenda, of which, according to him, Akwa Ibom State is a beneficiary.

The Governor said the Human Capital Development Plan is also designed to expansively provide key human-centric projects such as healthcare services, which the State is currently executing through investments in the construction and equipping of primary healthcare centers, provision of quality education at both the primary and secondary levels, empowerment of people, and equipping them with the requisite skills, knowledge and equipment they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world.

He enumerated different efforts of his administration at human capital development to include: establishment of the Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development Centre (IBOM-LED), which has trained over 4,000 people with start-up grants ranging from N5,000 to N750,000; the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre, DASAC, where over 400 trainees recently graduated in various areas of skill sets.

Also in the list included: 16 youths in Toulouse, France for training as pilots with Airbus; 21 engineers who recently came back from training with Ethiopian Airlines and would soon be absorbed by Ibom Air; empowerment of businesses, traders, and farmers with grants worth over N4 billion through Town Square Empowerment Meetings and support for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs); and many others.

He noted that his people-first policy, which is encapsulated in the government’s ARISE Agenda, aligns with that of the federal government, and he would do all possible to ensure the HCD programme meets its set target.

— EKERETE UDOH

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has announced a landmark 95 percent implementation of the 2024 statutory budget, describing the achievement as unprecedented in the history of the FCT.

Wike made this known during a media briefing after inspecting several critical infrastructure projects across the Territory, including major roads at Life Camp and Katampe, as well as the ongoing renovation of the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

“I can tell you we’ve done not less than 95 percent of the budget implementation. That is historic. It has never happened before. And if you look at the projects there, you will see that there is no project that is in the 2024 budget that we have not touched,” he stated.

He attributed the progress to the National Assembly’s decision to extend the lifespan of the 2024 FCT statutory budget until June 2025, which he said enabled the Administration to sustain funding and accelerate delivery on major projects.

Wike also revealed that the 2025 statutory budget had already been submitted to the National Assembly and expressed hope that its timely passage would maintain the current momentum and support the completion of key infrastructure across the FCT.

During the tour, the Minister expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of work, commending contractors for adhering to timelines and maintaining high standards.

Among the projects visited was the 4-kilometer six-lane dual carriageway linking Life Camp Junction to Ring Road III, currently under construction by Julius Berger. Once completed, the road will significantly improve connectivity between the districts of Kado, Karmo, Gwarimpa I, Dape, Ido-Gwari, Saburi, and Dei-Dei.

Another major project nearing completion is the access road from Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway (by N16) to the Judges’ Quarters in Katampe District. This route will also connect the N20 (Wole Soyinka Way) in Jahi District with Katampe and Maitama, enhancing mobility in the area.

Wike expressed particular delight at the progress of the International Conference Centre renovation, which he described as rapidly advancing.

“These projects will be inaugurated by Mr. President during his second-year anniversary celebrations. We have gone to the International Conference Centre, which is almost ready. The first phase of the N5 will also be ready by the end of May,” he said.

The Benue State Government is reportedly making moves to block a planned visit by Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi, to camps housing Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.

Obi, whose post-election activities have prominently included humanitarian outreach to victims of violence across the country, was said to have planned a visit to some of the IDP camps in Benue.

The former Anambra State governor, in recent weeks, visited IDP camps in Plateau, Southern Kaduna and Nasarawa states, meeting with displaced families, donating relief materials and advocating for urgent government intervention.

His visit to Plateau State drew national attention after he held talks with Governor Caleb Mutfwang and visited victims of herdsmen attacks.

According to reliable sources, Obi’s team had reached out to the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA) through its Executive Secretary, Sir James Iorpuu, to officially notify the agency and seek access to designated camps for the visit.

However, it appears the move has sparked a political storm within Benue’s corridors of power.

Top government officials reportedly advised Governor Alia against granting Obi access to the IDP camps, citing political undertones.

The visit, they argued, could be perceived as a calculated move by former Governor Samuel Ortom, a staunch supporter of Peter Obi during the 2023 presidential election, to revive his political relevance and embarrass the current administration.

Beyond the Ortom factor, sources also revealed that the decision to stop Obi’s visit was influenced by wider political calculations.

“It is believed that allowing Obi access at this time could fuel ongoing speculations that Governor Alia is considering leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC) amid tensions with some national leaders of the party.

“The governor is very conscious of his relationship with the Presidency and party hierarchy. Allowing Obi’s visit would not only trigger local political drama with Ortom but might also be interpreted in Abuja as a subtle alignment with the opposition at a time when Alia is battling internal party issues. This is not the kind of message he wants to send to the President.

“Such an association, especially with a high-profile opposition figure like Obi, could be politically damaging for Alia, who has been working to consolidate his hold on the state and maintain good standing with President Bola Tinubu’s administration,” a source told Ekwutosblog on Monday.

It would be recalled that in the February 25, 2023 presidential poll, Obi pulled a stunning performance in Benue State, securing over 308,000 votes, a figure that shocked many given the dominance traditionally enjoyed by the two major parties – APC and PDP.

His victory in the state was largely attributed to the support of Ortom and a groundswell of youth-driven, faith-based and middle-class backing.

Following this backdrop, sources disclosed that Governor Alia was convinced by his inner circle to forestall Obi’s visit to avoid reigniting political rivalries or offering Ortom and the Labour Party a platform to reassert influence in the state.

As a result, the governor reportedly instructed his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, to issue a public statement cautioning against what it described as “unapproved high-profile visits” to the state.

“For anyone considering a visit to Benue State without the Governor’s knowledge, it is imperative to reconsider such plans, as the safety and security of individuals in this regard cannot be guaranteed,” he warned.

Though the statement fell short of directly naming Peter Obi, insiders confirmed that it was a veiled warning aimed at dissuading the former presidential candidate from proceeding with his proposed outreach.

One government source, speaking anonymously, said, “The governor is not comfortable with Obi’s visit, especially with the political undertones it carries.

“The camps are a sensitive issue and we cannot allow anyone to politicise the suffering of our displaced people.”

As of the time of filing this report, neither Obi’s camp nor the Labour Party has issued an official statement regarding the restriction.

However, a source close to the former governor disclosed that the visit was purely humanitarian and part of Obi’s ongoing national outreach to communities affected by violence and displacement.