Akwa Ibom gov inaugurates medical gas plant

As part of activities to mark the 6th anniversary of his government, Udom Emmanuel, governor of Akwa Ibom state, has inaugurated a Medical Gas and Vacuum Plant at the Infectious Diseases Control Center, General Hospital, Ituk Mbang in Uruan Local Government Area of the state.

Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, his Sokoto counterpart, who performed the project inauguration, described Emmanuel as a visionary, resourceful and purpose-driven leader whose pragmatic leadership style in the state has been felt through his people-oriented projects.

He added that the governor’s performance has earned him respect even among other governors in the country.

Tambuwal, who is also the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) Governors’ Forum, said the governors are very proud of the Emmanuel-led administration.

“He has provided leadership, he is very resourceful to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and indeed the Federal Government of Nigeria,” he said.

Tambuwal described the Medical Gas and Vacuum Plant as a significant project in the state, adding that it as an investment that Akwa Ibom people will ever live to cherish.

“I congratulate you on your 6th anniversary and for choosing to commission this plant as described by the Commissioner for Health that is very key to the lives of the people, just look at it Medical Gas and Vacuum Plant which is for saving of lives, is there any other project?”

“No investment can be better than investment in health, no investment can be better than investment in human capital development, no investment can be better than investment in the future of youths in their employment and that of our women, and all of these are what Governor Udom Emmanuel is doing in Akwa Ibom State, how can we not be proud of him.”

Speaking earlier, Emmanuel said his vision in the health sector was driven by his passion to ensure that the people have access to quality health care delivery facilities.

He announced that with the installation of the Medical Gas and Vacuum Plant, the Isolation Center could be converted to a Critical Care Center in a Post- Covid era.

“With the plant we are commissioning today, this Isolation Center can be converted into what we call Critical Care Center in a Post- Covid era, and as the need arises we’ll keep doing more. So why are we doing it,” he said.

“I remember same time last year during this period, when we came here to commission this facility I promised that this will be one of the best general hospitals in this state and probably in this country that you need a secondary healthcare system.”

He promised to build more facilities that will train Akwa Ibom people to become experts in specialized fields.

“We need to look at training a lot of people here because we can’t be going to bring consultants from other places we must train our people, that is the essence of all these equipment here, so we are going to look at how to setup facilities here for training,” he said.

In a related development, the governor on Friday inaugurated 28 internal roads totaling 17.1 kilometers in Uyo metropolis, with a promise to construct more roads to boost economic activities and security in the State.

At Ewet Housing Extension, Osong Ama in Uyo, Emmanuel expressed the need to open up the state capital for industrial development and economic growth, while creating the right environment to attract investors.

He expressed satisfaction over the quality of road construction done by HENSEK Construction Company and other companies handling the road projects, adding that the project has opened the entire Ewet Housing Extension and other roads, encouraging new businesses in the area.

The roads inaugurated yesterday include; 19 internal roads in Ewet Housing Extension (Phase 1) 6.2KM, Multiple Grace School Road 1.5KM, Clement Isok Street, Nkan Avenue 1.4KM, Heartland School Road 1KM, Sylvanus Annette Cresent 1KM, Essien Inyang Street 0.6km, Pastor Simon Umoren Lane 0.6km.

Similarly, the governor also inaugurated a 2.1km internal roads in Ikot Akpabin, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government and approved an additional 1km road to be constructed in Ikot Akpabin, noting that the road projects are fulfillments of his promise to touch the rural communities through development and empowerment programmes encapsulated in the Completion Agenda of his administration to benefit the rural communities and stimulate the economy in the rural areas.