The Akwa Ibom State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable poverty reduction and inclusive development, underscoring the importance of collaboration with the Federal Government, development partners and the private sector to improve the living conditions of vulnerable communities.
The commitment was reiterated during the visit of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Mohammed Doro, who toured riverine settlements in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area to assess the impact of oil exploration activities and the living conditions of residents as part of the Federal Government’s field assessment of vulnerable communities.
Receiving the minister on behalf of Governor Umo Eno, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Mrs. Emem Ibanga, described the visit as a demonstration of the Federal Government’s resolve to tackle poverty through direct engagement with affected communities.
She said the Umo Eno administration, under its ARISE Agenda, has made poverty reduction a priority through sustained investments in social protection, food security, economic empowerment, skills acquisition and other livelihood programmes designed to improve the welfare of vulnerable residents across the state.
Ibanga noted that although the state government remains committed to addressing poverty, stronger partnerships with the Federal Government, development agencies and corporate organisations are essential to achieving lasting and inclusive development. She also urged companies operating in host communities to align their corporate social responsibility initiatives with the development priorities of the communities where they operate.
Speaking after inspecting the affected communities, Doro said President Bola Tinubu directed him to undertake the assessment to enable the Federal Government to obtain firsthand information on the living conditions of residents and the impact of oil exploration activities in the area.
According to the minister, the visit provided an opportunity to evaluate the level of poverty and vulnerability in the communities, with the findings expected to guide policy formulation, budgetary planning and humanitarian interventions by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
He described the living conditions in many of the riverine communities as worrisome and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to reducing poverty and promoting human capital development in underserved areas.
The Chairman of Eastern Obolo Local Government Area, Mr. Samuel Nteogwuijah, welcomed the visit, expressing confidence that it would strengthen collaboration between the Federal Government, the Akwa Ibom State Government and other stakeholders in implementing programmes targeted at vulnerable populations.
Community leaders, including the Paramount Ruler of Eastern Obolo, HRM Harry Etetor, commended Governor Umo Eno for constructing the access road linking the local government area to the rest of the state, describing the project as a major driver of socio-economic development.
They, however, appealed to the Federal Government to facilitate additional development projects in the area while calling on oil companies operating in the locality to increase investments in infrastructure, healthcare, education and skills development to improve the wellbeing of host communities.
As part of his visit, the minister also paid a courtesy call on Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company (SEEPCO), where discussions centred on strengthening public-private partnerships to support sustainable poverty reduction and enhance the welfare of oil-producing communities.
