Arise with Renewed Hope Initiative Scores Gov Eno High for Delivering Roads, Arise Homes

Arise with Renewed Hope Initiative Scores Gov  Eno High for Delivering Roads, Arise Homes

From Emmanuel Iyoho

              Comrade Tommy Etim Okon

Governor Umo Eno’s administration in Akwa Ibom State has been scored high for delivering rural roads, building ARISE Compassionate Homes for the poor and keeping the state peaceful, even as stakeholders insist the next phase must bring more industries, reliable electricity and stronger public accountability.

Comrade Tommy Etim Okon,  Chairman and Coordinator of Arise with Renewed Hope Initiative, Abuja, gave the assessment while speaking with The Pioneer on the Pastor Umo Eno-led government in Abuja recently.

He said any fair judgment of the governor must be balanced because the achievements are real, yet citizens expect faster reforms in key areas of the economy.

According to Okon, the administration has invested heavily in road construction and rural development across Akwa Ibom, while also reviewing and completing projects inherited from past governments. That focus on maintaining existing infrastructure, he noted, has improved movement and living conditions in many communities.

The ARISE Compassionate Homes programme has also stood out, with reports showing hundreds of vulnerable and indigent families now have decent shelter under the governor’s social welfare drive.

Through the ARISE Agenda social contract, grants and support schemes have reached farmers, traders, small business owners, women and youths. Independent assessments, Okon said, indicate significant job creation and wide participation, with many beneficiaries testifying to the impact.

On governance, Governor Eno’s repeated emphasis on unity and inclusive leadership has kept Akwa Ibom relatively peaceful and politically stable, a point even critics acknowledge as critical for attracting development.

However, Okon pointed out that many citizens want to see more than empowerment grants. They are calling for large-scale industries, manufacturing hubs and private-sector investments that can create sustainable jobs beyond government programmes.

He added that the pace of economic diversification needs to quicken if the state must move from social intervention to long-term wealth creation.

Transparency is another area demanding attention. Critics are asking for greater openness on the operations of major state-owned enterprises, the real cost of projects and how public revenue is spent. Okon suggested that more frequent publication of project status reports and performance metrics would strengthen public trust and silence doubts.

Education infrastructure also came under review. While the government has announced investments in schools, concerns remain about the condition of some public schools, technical colleges and learning facilities, especially in rural communities where students still grapple with dilapidated classrooms and poor facilities.

Perhaps the loudest concern is power supply. For businesses and households, unreliable electricity continues to stifle productivity and drive up costs. Okon said the government must pay greater attention to state-level power initiatives, industrial parks and economic infrastructure if Akwa Ibom truly wants to attract investors and stimulate growth.

“Governor Umo Eno’s administration has earned commendation for grassroots-focused programmes, rural development, social welfare initiatives and the maintenance of peace and stability,” Okon stated. “But many Akwa Ibom citizens would like to see stronger progress in industrialization, education infrastructure, power supply, transparency and large-scale job creation that can transform the state’s economy over the long term.”

He concluded that while the Pastor Umo Eno-led government has performed strongly in social intervention and rural development, economic transformation, industrial growth and public sector transparency remain areas that require greater attention if the ARISE Agenda must fully deliver on its promise.