Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has appealed to the Revenue Mobilization Allocation And Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), to make funds available for the State Government’s ongoing gully erosion reclamation and construction of world-class, Ibom ARISE Resort.
Briefing the Chairman and officials of RMAFC during a facility tour of the resort along Dominic Utuk Avenue, Uyo, Governor Eno disclosed that the project is a complete reclamation and transformation of an erstwhile dreaded gully erosion disaster-site into a resort of international standard.
“We are not just reclaiming an erosion site of 70 hectares of land, which is huge.We are here turning the disaster site to a resort of high economic value. Mr. Chairman, seeing is believing,” he said.
He appealed to the Commission for funding as the project is massive and worth the investment for the good and benefit of the people, State and Nigeria.
“Mr. Chairman, this is our story. We need help. The State Government alone cannot do this. We have already put in billions of Naira in reclamation alone.
“This is a world-class project that we are building. We really need funding to complete it. So, we appeal that you please assist us to complete this project on time for use.”
The Governor said that the project is part of the State’s strategy to diversify its economy, in accordance with RMAFC’s advice on state governments to vigorously pursue financial independence.
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The Governor thanked the Commission for selecting and approving the State to host its retreat, saying that the approval has afforded the State the opportunity to take the team on a tour of the facility for their full grasp of the extent of the project.
Responding, the Commission’s Chairman, Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, commended Governor Eno for his visionary and transformative leadership, describing the project as remarkable and a model for other state governments.
Dr. Shehu reiterated the Commission’s continuous call for states to diversify their economy, explaining that the Ibom ARISE Resort is an exceptional example of the diversification that the Commission have been advocating for States in the country.
The RMAFC boss assured the Governor of speedy recommendation of the project to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approval and release of funds to fast track its completion.
The Ibom ARISE Resort is a world-class resort project that will boost recreation, hospitality and sporting activities in the state.
