Monday February 23, 2026
www.thenewsdesk.ng
By Abasiofiok INYANG
The proposed digging of one borehole per electoral ward in Akwa Ibom State by the Governor Umo Eno led administration in the State has been described as a misplaced priority and an insult on the sensibility of the people of the state.
A human rights activist and Executive Director of COMPPART Foundation for Justice and Peace Building, Saviour Akpan Esq stated this at the weekend in his office while reacting to the recent statement by the governor during the second anniversary of Golden Initiative For All (GIFA).
While chiding the proposed plan, Akpan urged the State Government to conduct and make public an Environmental Impact Assessment report before embarking on such “a white elephant project”.
He also advised the Governor Umo Eno led administration to “reactivate Akwa Ibom Water Corporation to optimal performance before causing an earthquake in the state”.
According to him, “project of digging boreholes in over three hundred electoral wards is equivalent to building a cemetery and also portraying the governor of lacking in knowledge of what should be the developmental priority of the government to the people. In fact, it is akin to giving ice cubes to the Eskimos.
“The governor should rather construct Ukana Offot Street and Urua Nyomiko / Itiat Ntoiden road as a mark of honour to our Late First Lady and founder of GIFA, not sinking boreholes. We have enough boreholes already in the state.
“Alternatively let the governor dualize Abak – Ekparakwa- Mkpat Enin -Ikot Abasi road and rename it after the Late First Lady. She deserves such honour not white elephant boreholes that will be either abandoned or fund embezzled by inexperienced sycophantic ward Personal Assistants”.
Akpan further stressed that “since the late Late First Lady was a woman that loved what is good, announcing to sink boreholes in all the electoral wards of the state is an insult to not only her but the entire Akwa Ibom people.
“To further accord her that respect as a mother of Peace in Akwa Ibom State, I wish to advise the Governor to cause for the proper Gazette of all the Villages in the State to bring peace to war turned communities and as well set up an Agency that will be responsible for reconciling factions after every chieftaincy disputes as mark of honour to our dear late First Lady”.
It would be recalled that
during the 2nd Anniversary celebration of Golden Initiative For All (GIFA) at Ibom Hall, Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State Government unveiled plans to ensure that a new rural water system is to be established in each of the 369 wards of the state.
Accordingly, the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, directed the Ministry for Water Resources and Sanitation and the Akwa Ibom State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, (AKRUWATSAN), to partner with GIFA to ensure full implementation of the project.
The governor said, “We would agree that GIFA has done exceptionally and exceedingly well. So, a job well done means more job to be done. As a Government, and to immortalize the desire of my dear wife, Her Excellency, Pastor ( Mrs.) Patience Umo Eno, we will partner GIFA to ensure adequate water supply in all the 369 wards of the state.
He, therefore, directed the AKRUWATSAN, and the Ministry of Water Resources And Sanitation to immediately set up modalities to collaborate with GIFA “to ensure that within the next one year, every ward in every local government area of the state has a GIFA Water Project for the benefit of our people.
