All major projects executed by the Akwa Ibom State government will henceforth be completed within 18 months period. Chief Akpabio drew the line of project execution period while swearing in the Acting Auditor-General for local governments, Mr. Bassey Williams Umoh and the chairman, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Mr. Bassey Onyung Andy, at Government House, Uyo.

Governor Akpabio explained that the deadline was taken to ensure that the various contractors understand the direction of his administration to deliver projects to change the social and economic status of the state. Akpabio reiterated that within the time frame available, his administration was on course to start and increase the momentum of projects execution, be it federal or state project.

Congratulating the two appointees, governor Akpabio advised them to work with the singular goal of rendering services in such noble ways that would glorify God, adding, “Although we have laid foundations, we are not done yet.”

Chief Akpabio particularly stated that in the health sector, the facilities have to be of international standards, urging all public functionaries to help in raising awareness on health care by preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS and other diseases.

Meanwhile, a new Ministry of transport has been created. It is carved out from the Ministry of Works while a chief of staff to the government has been sworn in. The new ministry of transport is headed by the former attorney general as commissioner while the new chief of staff is Mr. Godwin Afangideh who until the appointment was the chairman, Local Government Service Commission.

Governor Akpabio explained that the creation of the new Ministry of Transport was to harness the commercial transport scheme to the benefit of the state as well as open new frontiers of transportation, especially in marine communities for accessibility.

Akpabio also explained that with the new ministry, his administration was determined to float more buses in the streets and revitalized marine transportation with hover crafts for safety of users. The governor maintained that his administration was set to bring in the best brains from among Akwa Ibom people within and outside the state to usher in industrial revolution to check unemployment, stressing, “I see success on the way, government has changed, it is no longer business as usual, we must change a lot of things.”

Chief Akpabio reiterated that all the ailing industries would be revitalized while more communities would be connected to the national grid and roads dualized to link major economic towns and institutions.