FG commends Akwa-Ibom for maintaining peace
NAN-H-44
Peace
By Ebere Agozie
Abuja, Dec. 19, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Government has commended the people and government of Akwa-Ibom for maintaining peace and refraining from acts of vandalism
The federal government specifically lauded the efforts of youth, elders and leaders of the state for preventing bombing, vandalism and disruption of pipelines, oil and gas flows, production and exploration activities across the state.
This is contained in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by Mr Lawrence Ojabo, Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, Ecological Fund Office.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Sen. Ita Enang, made the commendation at the inauguration of the Erosion Control Project at Ikot-Ebok/ Mobil Pegasus School, Eket, Akwa-Ibom.
However, Enang urged the people to maintain peace as funding for development activities, including ecological intervention projects, was from the statutory deductions from the Federation Account, funded largely with oil revenues.
He said that if oil production was affected, then the resources for intervention of ecological problems would be severely curtailed.
He said that production levels also affected the state’s share of the derivation fund disbursed to oil producing communities.
He also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for ensuring that all states received their statutory allocations from the Federation Account without hindrance, regardless of party affiliation.
He stated that the dualisation of the Uyo-Etinan-Eket highway by the Akwa-Ibom government was facilitated by its receipts from the Federation Account.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ecological Fund Office, Dr Habiba Lawal, said that the Ikot-Ebok/Mobile Pegasus School, Eket, had solicited for the President’s intervention to address the ecological problem at the institution.
He reiterated that the fund was the only avenue for the President to directly intervene in very serious ecological challenges in any part of the country to mitigate the effects on its citizens.
He said that the commissioning and hand over of the project would ensure effective ownership by the benefitting community to foster maintenance and sustainability.
The Permanent Secretary was represented by Mr Felix Okeke, Director, Soil Erosion and Flood Control Department of Ecological Fund Office.
The Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Environment, Mr Eshiet Ikpe, received the hand over certificate on behalf of the State Government, and thanked the Federal Government for the project.
NAN recalls that Enang had on Dec. 16, inauguarted the Erosion and Flood Control project at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom.
Addressing dignitaries and stakeholders at the site of the project, Enang called for the use and cultivation of fruit and economic trees on recovered erosion sites to meet the food and economic needs of the communities and the nation.
“This will also strengthen and protect the regenerated soil,’’ the presidential aide said.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Prof. Enehok Essien, thanked the federal government for the timely intervention, which had saved the road in the university and many buildings on the campus from imminent collapse from erosion menace. (NAN)
EPA/BOLA/MST
Edited by Bola Akingbehin/Muhammad Suleiman Tola