Akwa Ibom, Cross River Will Remain Brothers, Says Governor Eno

Akwa Ibom, Cross River will remain brothers, says Governor Eno…commends Helen Ukpabio for steadfast service to God, Humanity.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has reaffirmed the enduring bond between the people of Akwa Ibom State and Cross River State, describing both as brothers who must continue to live in peace and harmony.

The governor gave the assurance during a special Sunday worship service at Liberty Gospel Church in Calabar, where he urged Akwa Ibom indigenes residing and working in Cross River to promote peaceful coexistence and support the development of both states.

According to him, the historical relationship between the two states remains strong despite the creation of Akwa Ibom out of Cross River.

“The people of the two states will continue to be brothers because of our bond. Our unity, oneness and peace have always been our goal,” the governor said.

He noted that Akwa Ibom residents in Cross River should continue to pray for and work towards the peace and progress of their host state.

“Akwa Ibom State was created out of Cross River State, but then, we are still brothers. Those of you living here must not stop praying for the peace of Jerusalem as instructed in the Bible. Cross River State is your Jerusalem because you are resident here. Continue to live in peace, love and brotherliness for our overall growth,” he said.

Governor Eno also lauded the virtues of Apostle Helen Ukpabio, describing her as a servant of God whose life and ministry reflect integrity, dedication and compassion for humanity.

He urged the cleric to remain steadfast in her divine calling, noting that criticism often accompanies meaningful work and should not discourage those with genuine vision.

“As a matter of fact, I have come to learn that if people do not disagree with what you are doing, then you are not doing anything. They are free to disagree because God did not give them the vision but you,” he stated.

The governor further commended Apostle Ukpabio for what he described as being “consistently consistent” in her commitment to drawing people closer to God through her ministry.

Umo Eno

In her sermon titled “Commanding the Blessing,” drawn from Book of Psalms 133:3, Apostle Akpabio explained that blessings are superior to curses and often manifest through God’s pronouncements of multiplication and dominion in the lives of believers.

She urged Christians to maintain personal and environmental cleanliness as a way of positioning themselves to receive God’s blessings in their lives and endeavours.

The cleric also described Governor Eno as a compassionate leader and pastor whose administration has demonstrated commitment to people-oriented development.

She thanked the governor for attending the church service and prayed for the continued success of his administration, asking God to grant him strength, grace and wisdom to lead Akwa Ibom State to greater heights.

Members of the governor’s entourage included the Dean of the College of Commissioners and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Frank Archibong; former senator Effiong Bob; President General, ARISE with Renewed Hope Initiative, Engr. Uwem Okoko; Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah; and Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Eno Ibanga, among others.

How Governor Umo Eno Creating Cities Out Of A City

How Governor Umo Eno creating cities out of a city. On Dominic Utuk Avenue in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, where a menacing erosion gully once swallowed land, livelihoods and hope, a new geography has emerged.

It is not merely a construction project; it is an audacious reimagining of space and the recreation of the biblical “City Made of Gold”. The ARISE Palm Resort standing on the space today is a proof that vision, when matched with execution, can convert ecological scars into economic signatures.

Before bulldozers progressively arrived the site, the 70–71 hectares were a troubled landscape—deep ravines, criminal hideouts, and advancing erosion threatening nearby public and private infrastructure. What could have remained an environmental liability has instead become an engineered ecosystem, courtesy of the visionary leadership of the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno.

At the construction site of the “City” which unarguably is the first of its kind in Nigeria, ten to twelve metres of unstable earth have been excavated and replaced. A massive drainage control tunnel—about 3.5 metres high and 6 metres wide—now channels water responsibly. This is not beautification; it is environmental surgery, and the narrative shift from danger zone to economic citadel sends a powerful development message: decay is not destiny.

At the center of the resort is a cynosure of a Palm tree, which is both symbolic and instructive. This, perhaps, explains why Palm forms part of the name. In local culture, the palm tree represents resourcefulness—every part productive, every yield valuable. In similar fashion, the resort has been structured so that each facility—sports, hospitality, retail, conferencing, entertainment—becomes a revenue stream.

The foregoing implies that the ARISE Palm Resort is not an isolated beautification effort. It is a coordinated strategy aligning erosion control, tourism development, employment generation, renewable energy adoption and revenue expansion within a single framework. Few public projects attempt such multi-layered integration.

To understand the scale, one must see the resort not as a leisure park but as a multi-sector economic city. At its heart lies a nine-hole golf course built across hills, slopes and a bridge that spans a water channel—challenging terrain that meets international sporting standards.

Around it radiate villas, apartments, banquet halls, exhibition galleries, sports complexes, retail spaces and waterfront attractions. This is urban planning within a single perimeter.

Additionally, the economic projections are striking. When fully operational, the resort is expected to generate between ₦22 and ₦27 billion annually in internally generated revenue. In an era where subnational governments struggle with fiscal sustainability, this single development could significantly strengthen the state’s revenue base and foreign exchange inflows through tourism and events.

But macroeconomics often hides the human pulse. During construction alone, about 2,000 direct jobs were created, with an estimated 10,000 indirect engagements across supply chains. If each worker supports an average family of four, the livelihood impact extends to tens of thousands. Bricklayers, welders, ICT experts, gardeners, food vendors, POS operators—an entire micro-economy found oxygen.

Expressing her excitement about the all-in-one project, Grace Etim, a food vendor at the site confided thus: “I used to worry about feeding my children,” . “Now, lunch hour feels like harvest time.” Another artisan admitted candidly that steady site work kept many young men away from destructive paths. Development, in this sense, became a social stabiliser.

Significantly, the execution leaned heavily on local content. No expatriates dominated the workforce. Nigerian professionals—about 75 percent from Akwa Ibom—interpreted, developed and delivered the governor’s vision. It is infrastructure built by indigenous competence, reinforcing confidence in local capacity.

At the resort, power is not an issue as energy sustainability forms another pillar that makes the center unique and distinctively different. A 1.5-megawatt solar farm powers the complex, complemented by a dedicated public electricity line and standby generators. This layered power architecture reduces vulnerability and aligns with global hospitality standards where uninterrupted service is non-negotiable.

Again, security and institutional presence further reinforce investor confidence. With a police post, fire service station, clinic, pharmacy, bank, and 24/7 CCTV control room, the resort functions like a self-contained municipality. It is leisure fused with governance infrastructure—order embedded within recreation.

The artificial lake, stretching about 2.6 kilometres in its expanded design, introduces aquatic tourism—floating bars, canoe rides and planned electric boats. Waterfront dining and landscaped walkways extend over 1.5 kilometres, encouraging family recreation and wellness culture. It is environment curated as experience.

Sports tourism is another strategic layer. Beyond golf, other sporting activities that will take place at the resort include football, tennis, basketball, volleyball, badminton, squash, bowling, gymnastics and yoga. With a 1,500-capacity banquet hall expandable toward 2,000 seats and six breakout rooms, the resort positions Uyo as a conference and events destination capable of hosting national and international gatherings.

Quite commendable is the proximity of the resort to the Victor Attah International Airport. Delegates can land and arrive at a world-class leisure and conference environment within minutes. In tourism economics, accessibility determines viability. Here, geography cooperates with vision.

The residential component—20 luxury apartments (15 two-bedroom and five three-bedroom units) with smart-room features and curated services—signals long-stay hospitality potential. The Phase Two’s additional villas further amplify revenue streams and property value appreciation within the axis.

Critics may call it ambitious. Supporters may call it transformative. But its structural logic is undeniable: creating an attraction that multiplies value across sectors—agriculture (through food supply), transport, retail, entertainment, real estate and professional services. The multiplier effect is already visible in surrounding communities.

Importantly, the resort rebrands Uyo psychologically. Cities grow not only by population but by perception. A destination city attracts conferences, destination weddings, sporting tournaments and cultural festivals. Each event translates into hotel bookings, restaurant bills and transport fares.

How Governor Umo Eno Creating Cities Out Of A City

For Governor Umo Eno, this is more than bricks and landscaping. It is governance as place-making. By reclaiming a threatened terrain and converting it into a revenue-yielding asset, he demonstrates how leadership can create cities within cities—self-sustaining enclaves that relieve pressure on government finances while uplifting citizens.

Ultimately, the ARISE Palm Resort is a statement that development need not be incremental; it can be catalytic. From ravine to revenue hub, from erosion site to economic citadel, the transformation challenges conventional limits of subnational ambition.

In the final analysis, the ARISE Palm Resort is less about luxury and more about leverage. It leverages reclaimed land into revenue, recreation into employment, and vision into measurable economic value.

In doing so, it offers a template for how bold subnational leadership can indeed create cities out of a city—transforming geography into growth and aspiration into architecture. This is what the Arise Agenda of Governor Umo Eno represents- leadership with a human face.

Venerable Richard Peters is a Public Relations manager and writes from Uyo.

Akpabio Commends Governor Umo Eno On Peaceful Conduct Of APC State Congress

Akpabio commends Governor Umo Eno on peaceful conduct of APC state congress. The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio has commended the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno for the peaceful conduct of the State congress of All Progressives Congress.

Akpabio who participated in the Congress held at Uyo Township Stadium in Akwa Ibom State, observed the peaceful ambience that trailed the party event. He noted that in the past such events were always rancourous and marked by factionalization and acrimony.

The Senate President commended Pastor Eno for broad consultation and inclusive governance which led to the emergence of a new executive committee for the party in the state through consensus as prescribed by the constitution of the party.

A statement by the Special Assistant on Media/Communication to the President of the Senate, Anietie Ekong quoted Senator Akpabio as saying: “Somebody alluded to the fact that it was not always like this. Congresses in the State were always characterized by factions.

“While some gathered here at the Stadium, others would gather at a hotel to do their own parallel congress. But you will be shocked that before you get to Abuja it is the rag-tag congress that would be recognized by the Party.

“Just recently when the team came from Abuja to conduct the congress here, they had to be led to the State Office of the Department of State Services (DSS) for their safety. Let me tell you that even Ward and Local Government Congresses in some States, people lost their lives.

“But here we are in Akwa Ibom State conducting the congress as if we are in a church to take communion. Today I give glory to God for the peace in Akwa Ibom State. And this is because we are led by a true man of God who practices godliness in his heart.

“This is uncommon, this is unprecedented and it will go down in history as the first most peaceful congress in Nigeria. We will continue to support Governor Umo Eno. I can predict that even the coming elections in Akwa Ibom State, will be as peaceful as this congress.

“Akwa Ibom has continued to show leadership, Akwa Ibom has continued to show unity totally unprecedented. There is no single untowards incident throughout the Ward, Local Government and State congresses. Even old political foes have been reconciled today with this congress.”

Akpabio Commends Governor Umo Eno

In a voice vote, the party faithful pledged their support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu, Senator Akpabio and Governor Eno.

In his remarks the Governor thanked the President of the Senate for his presence which he said had dignified the Congress. He thanked God for the peaceful conduct of the Ward, Local Government and State Congresses and pledged the support of the State for the administration of President Tinubu.

The Congress re-elected Obong Stephen Ntukekpo as the State Chairman to lead the State Executive Committee of the Party with a focus on unity and grassroots mobilization.