THE 23RD AVENUE on chapter 25

On September 23, 1987 with the promulgation of Degree 24 of that year by the then military President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, and the southwestern third of Cross River state was created as a new state called AKWA IBOM STATE. Thus, Akwa Ibom was created by combining the Uyo, Ikot Ekpene, Eket and Abak divisions of old Calabar province. Consequently, General Babangida appointed Tunde Ogbeha as the first Governor of the state.

From the days of Tunde Ogbeha, Godwin abbe, Idongesit Nkanga , Akpan Isemin, Yakubu Bako, Joseph Adewusi. John Ebiye, Victor Attah, Akwa ibom state has walked a long and great walk and has reached her 23RD Avenue on her 25th anniversary celebration in the era of Governor GODSWILL OBOT AKPABIO.

Before his ascendancy to the State's top job, select loyalists of Akwa Ibom Government House were said to be empowered individually, in return for promoting the fortunes and propaganda of their benefactor. Akpabio's entry into the scene changed all that as empowerment assumed a much wider scope by way of development, spread evenly across the three senatorial districts. Road construction, renovation of classroom blocks, rural electrification, boreholes, completion of an 'international' airport and an international power plant, among others, are all to the credit of the Akpabio administration. The level of development in the State since his assumption of office surpassed those of all previous administration put together, since the creation of the state in 1987.

GOV. AKPABIO came into office with a 9 point agenda unity, peace and security, youth empowerment, social development, talent development, continuity, new economy, STRATEGIC INFRASTRUCTURE and new economy. Strategic infrastructure was my interest and I solely waited patiently to see how his administration will transform that, because a growing child will always wear a new look anytime you comeback to see him or her.

His Agenda on Strategic Infrastructure
 Appropriate and adequate investment in desirable public infrastructure

 Public-private partnerships
 Injection of sound social and economic structures to minimize impact and maximize benefits to communities

 Akwa Ibom International Airport
 e-Library
 Statewide high grade, high capacity roads
 Industrialization focused dispensation
 Synergistic interplay and balance of social, economic, and environmental objectives for sustainable development and improved revenue

 Flyover on Ikot Ekpene road across Itam peace column and Atiku Abubakar avenue across Idoro road

 Opening of new roads
 Dualization of roads
 Rehabilitation of roads
 Building of bridges and drainage
IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO, ANY ROAD (IN AKWA IBOM STATE) WILL TAKE YOU THERE.

Roads
• Opening of new roads
• Dualisation of roads
• Rehabilitation of roads
• Building of drainages
• Construction of flyovers
Governor Godswill Akpabio has put in place a vigorous road construction and rehabilitation scheme since 2007. With this scheme all headquarters of the 31 local government councils have been linked with a 20km tarred road. Several roads that had existed without attention since the inception of the state have been tarred by this administration. New roads are opened up and many are being rehabilitated more than any other period in the history of Akwa Ibom State.

Contracts for road construction worth well over N80 billion for road segments totaling 330Km has been awarded to both foreign and local construction firms which include: Ekim Itam – Ekom Iman road dualisation, Afaha-Obong – Ika – Etim Ekpo

Gov. Akpabio has demonstrated a vigorous road construction and rehabilitation scheme since 2007, more than any other period in the history of Akwa Ibom State. With this scheme headquarters of the 31 local government councils have been linked with about a 20km tarred road. Several roads that had existed without attention since the inception of the state have been tarred by his administration. New roads are opened up and many are being rehabilitated.

He has also embarked on many road construction projects in the three senatorial zones and 31 local councils of the state. The projects are being handled by road construction giants like Julius Berger, Setraco, Stemco, CCEE, ACE and Bass Engineering, etc.

A GOOD PLAN IS LIKE A ROAD MAP: IT SHOWS THE FINAL DESTINATION AND USUALLY THE BEST WAY TO GET THERE. H Stanley Judd

If there is one area in which Governor Godswill Akpabio has made tremendous, albeit invisible impact, it is in the area of galvanizing the unity of the State. Today, hardly anyone hears of discriminations or marginalization claims by any of the ethnic groups as all are duly figured into the scheme of things. Development projects, political appointments and other benefits are enjoyed by Akwa Ibom indigenes, without bias for their origins or political affiliations. These are gains the self-seeking politicians would be eroding with their baseless smear campaigns, as they would be pitting brother against brother in the bid to get what they want, even as they may want to shy away from the reality of creating an impossible state to govern should such ethnic sentiments take root, inadvertently. While Governor Akpabio's numerous achievements will always speak for him any day any time.

TROPICANA BUSINESS AND LEISURE COMPLEX
A 15-storey five-star hotel with 250 bedrooms, a Galleria with multiple cinema halls, an international standard Theme Park with waterfalls, A 10,000-seater Dome/Conference Center, a complimentary services Monorail/Mini Disney and Shopping Mall. It is estimated that the facility will generate fresh employment opportunity for over 5,000 people when fully operational.

IBOM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT International airport with maintenance, repairs, and overhaul (MRO) hangers Will provide passenger and cargo services and Can handle Boeing 747 aircrafts.

Ibom International Airport is first of its kind in West and Central Africa strategically located to serve the commercial interest of the Gulf of Guinea.

IBOM POWER PLANT
• Gas supply agreement signed with Nigerian Gas Company (NGC)

• Electricity generating licence obtained
The Ibom Power Plant located near the Aluminium Smelting Plant (ALSCON) in Ikot Abasi is designed to provide 685MW with an initial energy output of 191MW from three turbines in the first phase of which 60MW is dedicated to meet the State's current and future energy needs.

SCIENCE PARK
• Memorandum of understanding (MOU) between government and Exxon Mobil and Knowledge Partners Ltd/IBM on a graduate assistanceship programme

The State is currently developing a science park. The only science park with free trade zone status in the country. Promoting the establishment of hi-tech small and medium enterprises. Encouragement of Research and Development (R&D). This will enhance the deployment of e-commerce and e-governance in the state.

IBOM INDUSTRIAL CITY
• Has a natural draught of 11 meters
• requires little dredging to accommodate large ocean going vessels located in the oil rich region and would serve the oil companies and oil service companies located within the region

• Easy access to the oil rich Gulf of Guinea
• Proximity and centrality to Deep offshore operations & West African region, JDZ, Sao Tome, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Gabon, Tinapa.

• Could stimulate industrial, mercantile and tourism activities

• Development of infrastructure to support oil & gas exploration, shipping, industries and international trade within a free trade zone framework

• The synergy so generated would be used as a vehicle for rapid development.

Employment of a strategy that balances rapid industrialization economic growth with environment protection.

“THE ROAD TO SUCCESS IS ALWAYS UNDER PROTECTION” Lily Tomlin

This is the 25th chapter in the life of Akwa ibom state, and it is imperative at this stage for Akwa ibom state to have a statue of identification, world acclaim statues by states and countries did not come to be just as a sun or moon but by initiatives. IBOM CONNECTION has saved us for more than two decade, and it is high time we mold one for ourselves. If I am in NEW YORK CITY I will definitely want to have a view of the TOWER OF LIBERTY or take a picture of it, likewise PARIS I don't dare miss the TOWER OF EIFFL. Or London and not visit the TIME SQUARE, BURKINGHAM PALACE or THEATER OF DREAM (Manchester united stadium) these statues have generated millions of revenue for these countries and will even do more in the near future.

Akwa ibom state has reached that carder to have a statues identity. A road should be built or renamed (the ring road were the new stadium is being built should be named the 23RD AVENUE because the Olympic size stadia will be the first of its kind in Nigeria by a state government. Notwithstanding, it is sine qua non to achieve this feet because it's a silver jubilee for our great AKWA ABASI IBOM STATE. The name 23rd avenue is divine because it was on this date that she was created and on the 23rd of September 2009 on her 23rd Anniversary the first aircraft landed on her soil….what a birthday gift.

This is our road…our land. AKWA IBOM ISONG EMANA NNYIN, like ALFA KUFAR the musician use to sing AKWA IBOM AKWA IBOM IS OUR LAND…..

THE 23RD AVENUE IS THERE AND I CAN SEE IT…AND THAT'S OUR PRIDE.

Long live Akwa abasi ibom state
Long live Obong Godswill Obot Akpabio
Long live Nigeria.
KUKERE AKWA IBOM AYAYA
SOLOMON EFFIONG

lagos