WHY AKWA IBOM STATE MUST KEY INTO OPPORTUNITIES IN MINING SECTOR

By Senator Ekong Sampson

I feel delighted to welcome our esteemed members of the Public and Policy Analysis Committee and our other Stakeholders in Akwa Ibom South to this meeting. Let me kindly use this opportunity to express my profound appreciation to you and indeed, the entire people of Akwa Ibom South for your continuous support, input and collaboration.

This meeting is held in fulfilment of my commitment to continuously keep in touch with this all-important Committee and my constituents, to keep them abreast with my representation. It is part of the inclusivity and bridge-building across our senatorial district. I will continue to run a consultative representation, working in collaboration with this Committee, our leaders and stakeholders to reposition our senatorial district, for the greater good of all.

My commitment to taking Akwa Ibom South to Nigeria, and Nigeria to Akwa Ibom South, as well as offering effective representation has been steadily on course. I have remained very focused on my dual mandates of legislative business and oversight constituency engagements, ensuring that both the formal and informal aspects of my representation are well taken care of.

Education and healthcare have formed major planks of my early legislative advocacy, due to their importance in the development of a people. Apart from sponsoring a Bill to give legal teeth to the establishment of the Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi, I have also sponsored a Bill for the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre in Akwa Ibom South.

I have also presented a Bill for the establishment of Federal University of Medical Sciences in Eket, which will revolutionize our district educationally, and provide jobs for indigenes. My earnest push is for Akwa Ibom South to have a specialized Federal University in each of our Federal Constituencies – the Maritime University in Oron; Federal University of Medical Sciences in Eket, and the Federal University of Technology in Ikot Abasi. A tripod of university education spread across the three Federal Constituencies that make up our Senatorial District will be a great boost to education for our people.

As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, I have equally sponsored a Bill for the establishment of the Nigeria Solid Minerals Development Corporation. The Bill, when passed, will revolutionize the nation’s mining sector. I equally have a number of other strategic Bills and Motions filed to be taken for legislative consideration.

It is noteworthy to attest that Nigeria’s solid minerals industry, which I oversight as Senate Committee Chairman, is very vast and rich in potential. The sector has all it takes to become the major earner for Nigeria, provide jobs and improve our GDP.

Let me use this medium to encourage our people in Akwa Ibom State to key into opportunities in the mining sector. Akwa Ibom is richly endowed with mineral resources. Meanwhile, there is already top level discussion and collaboration between my office and the Akwa Ibom State Government, for mining opportunities in the State. I salute our dear Governor, Pastor Umo Eno for his strong interest in this regard. My deep gratitude also goes to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio GCON, for offering me the opportunity to serve as Chairman, Senate Committee on Solid Minerals.

Recall that after opening our Constituency Office under 100 days in office, we had a big empowerment in February this year, targeted at education and business support for over 700 constituents. As I speak, modalities have been set for the second tranche of the empowerment scheme, to cover even more beneficiaries.

There is also a lot done in the area of sustainable human capacity development. Through my intervention, many Indigenes have been employed into top federal parastatals, armed forces and even in the private sector. A special employment desk set up in my office in Abuja will continue to comb for more employment opportunities for our people.

I have also made firm commitment towards uplifting the infrastructure landscape of our senatorial district. My Constituency Projects are well spread across our entire Senatorial District. The projects are conceptualized to meet the needs of the people. For instance, the three state-of-the-art Computer-based Test Centres in Okobo, Eket and Mkpat Enin for instance, are designed to improve access to technology education in Akwa Ibom South, and aid our students in the modern CBT exams. We also have the erosion control project in Ekeya, Okoko; massive rehabilitation of electricity projects in parts of Eket and Urueffong Local Government Areas; opening of new roads, street lighting, training, among others – all well spread out.

A Special Constituency Projects Assessment and Implementation Committee made up of eminent sons and daughters of the Senatorial District has been mandated to ensure proper delivery on the Constituency Projects.

Part of the highlights of today’s meeting will be the presentation of my office magazine, ‘Akwa Ibom South Senator’. The magazine which is a collector’s item, captures my activities, Bills, Motions, Committee Engagements and other sundry aspects of representation in the Red Chambers, in the past one year.

Before I round up, let me congratulate our great party, the PDP on its massive and emphatic victory in yesterday’s Local Government poll in Akwa Ibom State. Let me, once again, commend His Excellency, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno for his giant strides in the State, and for starting strong. You have my full assurances to continue to work closely with our uncommon icon and President of the Senate, His Excellency, Senator Godswill Akpabio, our Governor, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, and other stakeholders, to develop Akwa Ibom South and our State, generally. I thank you most sincerely, for your support and collaboration. To my people in Akwa Ibom South, I promise to continue to do my best in bringing the prized dividends of democracy to you.

Thank you and God bless you all.

– (Being remarks by Senator Ekong Sampson, Ph.D, representing Akwa Ibom South, Chairman, Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, & Chairman, Akwa Ibom PDP National Assembly Caucus, at a meeting with members of his Public and Policy Analysis Committee and other Stakeholders of Akwa Ibom South – 6th October, 2024)