Akwa Ibom State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable poverty reduction and inclusive development.
The reaffirmation came during the visit of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Mohammed Doro, who toured riverine settlements to assess living conditions and the impact of oil exploration on host communities, as part of the Federal Government’s field assessment of vulnerable communities in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area.
Receiving the Minister on behalf of Governor Umo Eno, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Emem Ibanga, described the visit as a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing poverty through direct engagement with affected communities.
She said the Umo Eno administration, through the ARISE Agenda, has prioritised poverty reduction with investments in social protection, food security, economic empowerment, skills acquisition and other livelihood programmes aimed at improving the wellbeing of vulnerable residents.
Ibanga noted that while the state government remains committed to tackling poverty, partnerships with the Federal Government, development partners and corporate organisations are essential to achieving sustainable development, urging companies operating in host communities to align their corporate social responsibility initiatives with local development needs.
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Speaking after inspecting the communities, the minister 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.
Doro said the visit provided an opportunity to assess the level of poverty and vulnerability in the area, adding that the findings would guide policy decisions, budgeting and humanitarian interventions by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
He described the living conditions in many of the communities as concerning and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to poverty reduction and human capital development in underserved communities.
The Chairman of Eastern Obolo Local Government Area, Samuel Nteogwuijah, said the visit would strengthen collaboration between the Federal Government, Akwa Ibom State Government and other stakeholders in delivering programmes targeted at vulnerable groups.
Community leaders, including the Paramount Ruler of Eastern Obolo, HRM Harry Etetor, commended Governor Eno for constructing the access road linking Eastern Obolo to the rest of the state, describing the project as a major boost to socio-economic development.
They also appealed to the Federal Government to attract more development projects to the area while urging oil companies operating in the locality to invest more in infrastructure, healthcare, education and skills development.
The minister also paid a courtesy visit to Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company (SEEPCO), where discussions focused on strengthening public-private partnerships to support sustainable poverty reduction and improve the welfare of host communities.
