As the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly is ready to hold a Public Hearing tomorrow, 11th. April, on a Bill for a Map of Akwa Ibom State and for Other Matters Connected Therewith.
After 36 years of creation, Akwa Ibom State is about to get its first gazzetted map which will put an end to the myriad of communal crisis which has been eating up many villages within the State.
This is one big gift the current State Assembly and the administration of Govenor Udom Emmanuel would bequeath the state before its expiration in May 29, 2023.
As we all know, a well defined map is the biggest infrastructure drive any government can give to its people.
The map attached is 1987 extracted from old Cross River State.” with just 10 Local Government Areas, but since 21 more local government Areas were created, the State hadn’t a gazetted map showing proper delineation of the local government areas and their villages.
Recalled that the Chairman House Committee on Works and Transport/ Member Representing Eket State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Dr. David Lawrence had in 2021, notified the House, through a motion, on the need to provide for a Map for the State. However the Bill went through a refining process, and was read and passed a second time on the floor of the Assembly, on 4th. April. The Speaker then referred the Bill to House joint Committee on Lands & Housing, Boundaries/Conflict Resolution and Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs, to report back to the House on Tuesday, 11th. April 2023 for more legislative actions.
Bubblesnews confirm that the Public Hearing exercise will hold tomorrow, at the Old Assembly by 10:00am.
In a statement signed by the clerk of the committee, Mrs Victoria Udofia invitation has been sent to Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey & his deputy, Rt. Hon. Felicia Bassey and members of the Assembly. The committee also invites Honourable Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources – Captain Iniobong Ekong rtd, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs- Hon. Frank Achibong, the Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State- Mr Uko Udom SAN, Chairmen of Local Governments, and the State Surveyor General.
Also invited to the town hall meeting are, The Oku Ibom Ibibio, Etinyin Solomon Daniel Etuk, President- Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, President – Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Akwa Ibom State, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, Ati Annang, Oro Union, Ekid Peoples Union, Ngba NdiaK Obolo, all Paramount Rulers, Civil Society Organization and other critical stakeholders.
The committee chaired by Rt. Hon.(Sir) Udo Kierian Akpan therefore welcomes useful memoranda, written documents and recommendations from revered individual and organizations that will help the committee deliver on its mandate while assuring participants a fruitful and hitch-free discussions.
The Committee noted further that it was necessary to encourage citizens participation in the ongoing bill in line with lawmaking process.