“For emphasis, Premium Times disclosed that Akwa Ibom realized N286.7 billion between May and December 2023, N1.110 trillion in 2024, and N1.134 trillion in 2025 alone”
PRESS STATEMENT
February 15, 2026
AKWA IBOM’S N2.53 TRILLION IN 32 MONTHS: A SHAMEFUL HARVEST OF SECRECY, WASTE, AND ZERO LEGACY UNDER UMO ENO’S APC GOVERNMENT
The PDP Advocates for Peace and Justice (PAPA-J) has received with deep concern and righteous outrage the investigative report by Premium Times revealing that Akwa Ibom State, under Governor Umo Eno and the APC-led administration, has recorded an unprecedented revenue inflow of over N2.53 trillion within 32 months.
This figure, according to the report, is not only staggering but also higher than what the state earned across the entire wonderful and superlative eight years of former Governor Udom Emmanuel’s administration of PDP, including the final months of the preceding government.
For emphasis, Premium Times disclosed that Akwa Ibom realized N286.7 billion between May and December 2023, N1.110 trillion in 2024, and N1.134 trillion in 2025 alone.
Yet, in the midst of this historic inflow, the bitter question confronting Akwa Ibom people today is simple: Where is the evidence? Where are the projects? Where is the impact? Where is the legacy?
PAPA-J states categorically that no administration in the history of Akwa Ibom State has had this volume of financial advantage and delivered so little visible development. After 32 months of massive earnings, the APC government of Governor Umo Eno has failed woefully to deliver any legacy project that reflects the financial strength of the state.
From Uyo, the state capital, to Ikot Ekpene, Eket, Oron, Abak, Etinan, and rural communities across the 31 local governments, the reality is clear: Akwa Ibom is not experiencing development commensurate with N2.53 trillion. The roads remain neglected, erosion continues to destroy communities, healthcare is struggling, schools lack modern facilities, and unemployment is rising at an alarming rate. Yet, the government continues to parade media announcements and cosmetic commissioning ceremonies without substance.
The state capital, Uyo, which should be a model of modern governance, has witnessed no major transformation under Governor Eno. There is no significant urban renewal, no major road revolution, no visible mega infrastructure, and no durable project capable of defining the administration’s name beyond propaganda. If truly N2.53 trillion has passed through the hands of this government, then Akwa Ibom people deserve more than press statements and photo-ops from this government.
Even more troubling is the report’s revelation that the Akwa Ibom State Government has continued to publish skeletal, shallow and incomplete budget performance reports that do not disclose detailed expenditure breakdowns. This is a direct violation of fiscal transparency standards and a betrayal of the Akwa Ibom State Fiscal Responsibility Law.
A government that is proud of its achievements does not hide its books. A government that is spending wisely does not fear public scrutiny. The consistent refusal of the Umo Eno administration to provide detailed spending reports is a red flag that suggests a government that is either grossly incompetent or deliberately evasive.
According to the same report, Akwa Ibom State reportedly expended N2.25 trillion between July 2023 and December 2025, including N177.94 billion between July and December 2023, N740.31 billion in 2024, and N1.330 trillion in 2025. Yet, despite the mind-blowing figure of N1.330 trillion spent in 2025 alone, the people cannot point to any commensurate infrastructural achievement, industrial revolution, or major economic intervention.
How can a state spend over a trillion naira in one year and still leave citizens battling poor roads, massive pot holes in the state capital, uncompleted projects littered the state capital, rising hunger, weak public healthcare, and widespread joblessness?
PAPA-J insists that with N2.53 trillion, Akwa Ibom State should by now be experiencing a development leap similar to global emerging cities. This amount could have been used to construct world-class road networks across all senatorial districts, revive and expand Ibom Power for stable electricity, modernize public hospitals and equip them with life-saving facilities, upgrade primary healthcare centers in all local governments, build affordable housing schemes for civil servants and low-income earners, and support SMEs for youth employment, rehabilitate schools and provide learning infrastructure across the state, strengthen security architecture to protect lives and property, provide massive agricultural support for food production and reduce hunger, and address flooding and erosion destroying communities yearly.
Instead, the people are left with hardship, while government officials speak in abstract terms and issue vague performance reports.
Akwa Ibom youths are still trapped in unemployment and underemployment. Families are struggling with paying their wards school fees, and rising cost of living. Many communities lack clean water, accessible healthcare, and functional public schools. This government has failed to translate massive revenue into human development. A government that receives such huge resources and cannot reduce poverty or improve livelihoods is a government that has lost direction.
Premium Times further revealed that Akwa Ibom State’s reported expenditure in 2025 is N63 billion higher than the combined expenditure of Abia, Cross River, Ebonyi and Kebbi States. This is alarming. If Akwa Ibom is spending more than four states combined, then Akwa Ibom should not be battling with infrastructure decay and stagnant development. Instead, we are witnessing what appears to be reckless spending without measurable outcomes.
In view of the above, PDP Advocates for Peace and Justice (PAPA-J) demands the following:
1. Immediate publication of a comprehensive and detailed expenditure breakdown of the N2.53 trillion revenue recorded between May 2023 and December 2025.
2. Full disclosure of project costs, contract awards, beneficiaries, and procurement processes.
3. An independent audit of the state’s finances under the Umo Eno administration.
4. A public explanation on why Akwa Ibom continues to publish shallow budget performance reports that fail transparency standards.
5. A clear list of legacy projects executed with the huge inflows recorded.
Akwa Ibom is an oil-producing state blessed with enormous resources. Our people should not be suffering in the midst of abundance. It is unacceptable that with N2.53 trillion, the state has no signature project that reflects that income.
Governor Umo Eno and his APC administration must understand that governance is not about speeches, praise-singing, or media packaging. Governance is about measurable results that improve the lives of citizens.
PAPA-J reiterates that the people of Akwa Ibom State deserve a government of transparency, competence, and development. This administration has failed the basic test of accountability, and the evidence is seen in the hardship and stagnation across the state. The era of secrecy must end. The era of governance without results must end.
Akwa Ibom people demand answers. Akwa Ibom people demand accountability. Akwa Ibom people demand development.
Signed:
Dr. Tom FredFish, fipma
Chairman
Mr. Saviour Uko
Secretary
