•••Says Gov Eno Has Set Akwa Ibom on a Path of Real Economic Expansion
Akparawa Johnson Attah, a maritime expert and Managing Director of Calakwa Integrated Services, has hailed Governor Umo Eno for devoting 75 percent of the 2026 budget to capital expenditure, describing it as the most decisive step toward unlocking the State’s economic potential in the coming fiscal year.
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| Akparawa Attah |
Speaking with newsmen yesterday, shortly after the Governor presented the ₦1.39 trillion 2026 budget, Attah said his 25 years of active participation in Nigeria’s maritime and logistics sector had given him enough exposure to understand the economic value of a capital-heavy budget such as the one proposed. He noted that the Governor’s decision to push ₦1.035 trillion into capital projects was the clearest indicator that infrastructure-led growth remains the anchor of development roadmap of the State.
Attah opined that the Governor’s emphasis on roads, health, education, and other key sectors will trigger multiplier effects that will stimulate private investments, cut production costs, and enhance the State’s competitiveness.
The Ukpum Minya in Mkpat Enin born politician observed that once critical roads and infrastructure are completed, the State will experience smoother movement of goods and services, improved market access for farmers, and faster turnaround time for local businesses.
Johnson Attah eulogized Governor Eno for making the budget to reflect the aspirations of citizens captured during the Town Square Meetings. He noted that such a bottom-up approach aligns with the ARISE Agenda and allows government interventions to meet real community needs rather than imagined priorities.
He said he was particularly pleased that the administration allocated significant resources to rural infrastructure, describing it as a deliberate move that will curb rural–urban migration and stabilize local economies. He added that Mkpat Enin, like other local government areas, stands to gain immensely from the Governor’s commitment to equitable project distribution.
Attah noted that the Governor’s strong emphasis on agriculture, including mechanized farming, processing hubs, and the palm tree revolution, was in line with global best practices for sustainable growth. He said these interventions, when combined with the proposed capital investments, will create a more resilient economy capable of withstanding external shocks.
The maritime expert argued that the budget’s focus on education and health demonstrates the administration’s commitment to building a productive population, especially with allocations targeted at model schools, model healthcare centers, and community-based facilities across the 31 LGAs.
He maintained that Governor Eno’s decision to strengthen rural electrification, feeder roads, water schemes, and SME expansion would further deepen economic activities at the grassroots and directly improve the living standards of rural households.
While expressing optimism that 2026 will mark a major turning point for development trajectory in the State, Attah appealed to stakeholders, private investors, and development partners to rally behind the Governor, maintaining that a capital-driven budget of this nature deserves broad-based support to achieve maximum impact.
