ESSIEN UDIM COUNCIL BOSS SET TO INAUGURATE 500-STAND COCONUT PLANTATION
By Akanimo ATTANG
The executive chairman, Essien Udim Local Government Area, Elder, Raphael Isobora, has concluded plans for the inauguration of a 500-stand Coconut plantation in Afaha Ikot Ebak, Essien Udim local government area, as part of his administration’s pet project aimed at providing timely drift from excess dependence on crude oil to alternative revenue generating source.
Heralding the plan during an interactive session with news men in his office, the chairman who has been an experienced businessman for over four decades, explained that the project became necessary as the growing needs of Essien Udim people require more human and financial resources as well as corroborating the industrialisation agenda of the present administration in the state.
Speaking further, Isobora pointed out the need to explore more critically into the abundant untapped natural resources in Essien Udim as a subtle means of ensuring a fruitful, lasting, viable and sustainable diversification of the Nigerian economy.
In a midterm assessment of his administration, the chairman listed some of the completed projects like, fencing of the local government council Secretariat; opening of Urua Akpan hospital road linking the council Secretariat, which, according to him, was a mere bush tract before his intervention; provision of access road to Notre Dame Secondary School, Urua Edet Obo; provision of access road to Government Secondary School, Nto Nsek; provision of access road linking Urua Akon and Odoro Ikot Villages; evacuation of a 15 years refuge dump at Obo Annang Market which became a severe hitch on the citizens health and well-being.
The chairman while noting the financial inadequacy in the current administration to tackle numerous problems facing the area and to cater for the needs of his people, reiterated undying determination to make the Essien people enjoy the dividends of democracy part of which is the continued effort in engaging both the state government and several organised private institutions in the state and beyond, to include Essien Udim people in their corporate plans and activities. This will vehemently assist the achievement of both infrastructural and human sustainable development of the entire Essien Udim local government area.
Commenting on the federal government school feeding programme currently operational in primary schools across the nation, Isobora commended the presidency for such well conceived and executed scheme in the educational sector which for him has rendered immense lingering benefits to many families in Essien Udim, and provided a major aspect of the expected results as primary schools in the local government, for instance, have received numerical boost in their population.
The chairman called on the citizens of Akwa Ibom state and Essien Udim particularly to constantly pray for their leaders and remain law abiding as they embark upon their daily endeavours, adding that the current administration means well for their existence and will leave no stone unturned in providing the necessary developmental projects capable of giving them a better life.
