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COVID-19: GOV EMMANUEL INAUGURATES ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE

…Discloses Why Akwa Ibom Missed Out Of FG’s N43 Billion Grants

 

Akwa Ibom state governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel has inaugurated the Akwa Ibom Post Covid-19 Economic Re-Construction Committee chaired by Mr Akpan Hogan Ekpo, a Professor of Economics and former Vice Chancellor, University of Uyo

Emmanuel who spoke at the inauguration of the Akwa Ibom Post Covid-19 Economic Re-Construction Committee held at the Government House Banquet Hall, Uyo said the political imbroglio that engulfed the state House of Assembly in 2018 was the only factor that militated the state from benefiting from the grant.

He recalled that the passage of the 2018 budget by House of Assembly was delayed owing to the political crisis of the time where three former PDP lawmakers who defected to another political party wanted to change the leadership of the Assembly.

Emmanuel while inaugurating the Post Covid-19 Economic Committee said the Covid-19 has affected the global economy such that there is need to to chat new ways to boost the economy of the state without the reliance on oil.

Emmanuel who listed a 9-point terms of reference for the Committee disclosed that the committee is at liberty to co-opt any expert from across the globe to assist in meeting the target.

According to Emmanuel, the committee is saddled with the responsibility to make recommendations for a strong social re-orientation programme for the citizens of Akwa Ibom state across board, thus the need to unlearn old mindsets, adopt new ones and see the value of life beyond what others see.

Besides, Emmanuel stated that the Committee would design a workable formula towards restoring basic livelihood even if only at subsistence level.

Regardless, the Committee, in the words of the governor ” develop conflict sensitive policies that will lead to identifying low hanging fruits, stability and prosperity for all.

Members of the Committee who are drawn from Corporate, Government, Medium Scale Enterprises and the Academic will among others things be expected to ” guide the state government in the formulation of policy framework necessary to create a viable economy Post Covid-19.

Speaking further, Emmanuel tasked the Committee to identify and explore ways and means of sourcing funds and attracting investment partners with comfortable terms, locally, nationally and internationally in the realisation of every identifiable revenue generating projects.

He said this should also involve the redesigning of policies targeting and attracting technical assistance including bilateral, multilateral and Foreign Direct Investment.

According to Emmanuel, the Committee will ” state the frame or gestation of each of the income generation project and establish the interconnectedness apart from providing input materials from one to another in the value chains of each of projects.

The governor said the Ekpo-led reconstruction committee would also develop a priority list of economic Re-Construction projects, then establish the sequence of prerequisites best order of implementation, segmented in series and parallel, indicate the duration of each segment.

The committee which has one month to submit its report to the Governor would also state measurable sources indicators of sustainable socioeconomic growth and development of Akwa Ibom state with little or no revenue from oil.###

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