WASH: Akwa Ibom Targets 2030 To End Open Defecation 

Towards creating an environmental – friendly atmosphere for business inflows, the administration of the Umo Eno, has set the 2030 target date to make Akwa Ibom State an Open Defecation Free (ODF) economy.

This, LEADERSHIP gathered, armed to sustain the tourism master plan as the State Government looks beyond oil to diversify the economy.

Towards this end, the administration stated that it has stepped up reforms in water supply, sanitation, land administration and urban development, with major initiatives targeted at expanding access to basic services, securing land ownership and creating a more orderly environment for investment across the state.

The developments were disclosed during a ministerial briefing at Government House, Uyo, the State capital, as part of the administration’s ongoing accountability engagement on the implementation of the ARISE Agenda blueprint of government.

Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Umanah, said the State had achieved over 95 percent implementation of the ARISE Agenda within three years, noting that the administration would continue to engage citizens through the media on its programmes and achievements.

In the water and sanitation sector, Commissioner for Water Resources and Sanitation, Hon. Ubuo Ubuo, disclosed that access to improved drinking-water sources had risen from 34.8 per cent to 78.5 per cent, while sanitation access increased from 29.3 per cent to 71.2 per cent.

He also reported an increase in proper handwashing with soap from 47.5 per cent to 82.6 per cent and household water treatment from 24.7 per cen to 69.4 per cent attributing the improvements to interventions captured by WASHNORM data.

A major next step, according to Ubuo, is the planned rollout of solar-powered overhead tank water schemes across all 369 wards in the state. Site identification and technical preparations have been completed, with procurement of some donated components already approved by the State Executive Council (SEC).

“The government has also approved the State WASH Policy, WASH Monitoring and Evaluation Framework and a roadmap towards making Akwa Ibom open-defecation-free by 2030.

“The Water Users Association Law has equally been assented to, strengthening community participation in the management of water and irrigation facilities.

Several water projects, including solar-powered facilities, boreholes and treatment plants, have been completed in different parts of the State, while a chlorination pilot is targeting about 200 water facilities in selected communities and health centres to improve water quality and reduce the risk of waterborne diseases,” he disclosed.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Lands and Town Planning is pushing a major digital transformation of land administration through the Akwa Ibom Geographic Information System (AKWAGIS).

Commissioner for Lands and Town Planning, Hon. Ubong Inyang, said “the digital system would facilitate land-record digitisation, spatial mapping, title verification and property searches, while streamlining the processing of Certificates of Occupancies (C-of -Os)

The initiative is expected to reduce fraudulent land transactions and the activities of unauthorised vendors, improve title security and provide more reliable land information for residents, investors and government.

Beyond land documentation, the ministry is strengthening urban planning and development control in Uyo and other major growth centres, including Eket, Oron and Ikot Ekpene. Strategic planning reviews, field inspections and enforcement of building setbacks and approved layouts are being intensified to check uncontrolled development, improve drainage and reduce risks associated with seasonal flooding.

The ministry is also protecting strategic land reserves and infrastructure corridors, while the government has approved more than N4 billion in compensation within the last year for land acquired for major public projects.

The compensation covers acquisitions for projects including the Ibom Medical City, Renewed Hope Estates, the AKBC building, Command and Control Centre and TCN building, among others.

For residents and investors, the emerging reforms point to a broader effort to make basic services more accessible while making land ownership and urban development more transparent, orderly and secure.

The Lands Commissioner said the next phase would include a fully digital C-of-O processing system, a statewide GIS spatial data hub, an automated land registry, further digitisation of land records and stronger enforcement of development standards.

“Taken together, the initiatives underline the administration’s emphasis on building systems that go beyond individual projects, with emphasis on sustainable water supply, public health, secure land tenure, orderly urban growth and an investment-friendly environment across the State,” he stressed.