The Vice President, His Excellency, Arc. Namadi Sambo has inaugurated two mega projects initiated by the Chief Godswill Akpabio Administration in Akwa Ibom. The projects are the multi-million Naira fire-fighting equipment and the waste maintenance workshop at Uyo and Itam respectively. Major components of the fire-fighting equipment inaugurated include 16 water tankers, 25 trucks, 16 ambulances, two coaster buses, 16 utility vehicles and two command vehicles. Others are 700 assorted kits, 500 oxygen apparatus, 12 Motorola Walkie-talkies, 25 electricity transformers, 25 generating sets and several tanks of fire extinguishing chemicals.

Inaugurating the equipment, Vice President Sambo lauded the Akwa Ibom government for the facilities, saying it was a direct attempt to ensure safety of the citizens. Sambo, an architect, observed that the equipment were of international standards worth contributing in saving lives and property in the state. The Vice President said, "It is clearly another effort in line with the transformation of Akwa Ibom by the present administration," noting that "it calls for the continuity of the leadership in office."

Conducting the Vice President round the fire fighting headquarters, Akwa Ibom governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, stated that the initiative was part of life-touching projects in the state. Chief Akpabio explained that the equipment on a test had saved more than 100 homes from a heavy fire incident involving a petroleum product tanker accident in the state capital. The governor also explained that the last time fire-fighting equipment and other safety apparatuses were procured dates back to Nigerian independence, noting, "Non-availability of modern appliances of safety has affected operations of such services to the public.”

At the waste management workshop, the Vice President inaugurated 1,200 receptacles and six waste compactors for environmental protection of Akwa Ibom communities.

Vice President Sambo also undertook the flag-off of construction work at the Nung Udoe-Uyo Dual Expressway to the admiration of a cross-section of the people of the state and non-indigenes alike. The Nung Udoe-Uyo Expressway construction connects the state capital with several local government areas, including Eket in the Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District.

Meanwhile, a cross-section of Akwa Ibom people has applauded Governor Akpabio for the procurement of firefighting equipment for the State Fire Service. The senior fire superintendent of the Akwa Ibom State Fire Service, Mr Godwin Francis, who spoke shortly after the inauguration of the equipment, said that the fire-fighting equipment would go a long way in curtailing fire related disasters in the state. He however appealed to the state government to increase their hazard allowances to motivate them to face the challenges of the job.

Also speaking, a member of Ati Annang, a socio-cultural organization in the state, Mrs Mercy Ntia, appreciated the state governor for successfully hosting the Vice President in the state and for the transformation of the state. Mrs Ntia who is also the treasurer of Ati Annang, Abak chapter, thanked the wife of the state governor, Mrs Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, for assisting the governor to turn things around in the state.