Eno urges residents to safeguard public facilities against vandalism

By Innocent Raphael

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has urged the residents to safeguard public facilities against vandalism.

Eno emphasized the importance of safeguarding public facilities, stating that the government cannot continuously invest in repairs.

Speaking at the April edition of the Government House monthly prayer service in Uyo, he stressed the need for communities to protect these assets, highlighting the government’s commitment to reaching all regions.

The Governor warned that replacing vandalized facilities in certain areas while others lack them will not be accepted moving forward.

Referring specifically to electricity transformers, he stated, “There is so much request for transformers and I want to appeal that there are communities that transformers were already given. I know the last administration bought well over two hundred transformers, they distributed these transformers, and fixed them but people have vandalized some.

“People live in these communities, so when government brings transformer to your community and you cannot watch it or set up a system to protect it, and they are vandalized and you come again, understand that we have many communities in this state, and would not replace newly-installed transformers if the people there don’t know the value of transformers.

“You need to form a neighborhood watch or vigilante to protect those transformers and other government assets around you. These facilities belong to all of us, so be interested in them.”

The Governor mentioned that his first anniversary was approaching, and the projects scheduled for commissioning would be announced soon. He encouraged stakeholders to participate in the anniversary events.

He criticized attempts by some to undermine the ARISE Elders Initiative; a scheme, which provides financial aid of fifty thousand naira monthly to each recipient, and aimed to alleviate the healthcare challenges faced by many elderly individuals in the state, emphasizing it’s for all Akwa Ibomites, not just PDP members, and shouldn’t be controlled by one stakeholder.

Eno further reiterated the importance of transparent selection processes for beneficiaries of the ARISE Elders Initiative, designed to assist elderly citizens with medical needs.

Expressing concerns over reports of process hijacking, the Governor urged for fair and inclusive selection procedures. He advocated for the involvement of local government chairmen and community leaders in the selection process to ensure equitable distribution of assistance across all wards.

Furthermore, the Governor highlighted the significance of rural development as a cornerstone of his administration’s legacy. He reiterated the commitment to enhancing infrastructure and services in rural areas, aligning with the overarching ARISE Agenda aimed at holistic development across the state.

While noting that his administration would be entering its second year, he pledged to intensify efforts in fulfilling the outlined agenda, focusing on both soft and hard infrastructure projects to address the evolving needs of the populace.

The State Chief Executive further stressed the importance of prioritizing personal security, noting that recent incidents revealed 80 percent of kidnappings in the State stemmed from information provided by individuals around the victim, with only 20 percent occurring by chance.

He cautioned against sharing personal information on social media platforms, as it poses a significant security risk.