The Akwa Ibom State Government says it has earmarked a total of N33billion to farmers and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the State.
Expressing the State Government’s commitment to boosting small scale businesses, the State Government disclosed that so far, N2 billion had been disbursed to 3,496 traders across 31 local government areas to encourage commercial activities in rural communities.
The State Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Capt. Iniobong Ekong, disclosed that N31 billion was earmarked in 2026 as empowerment for traders, youths, women, farmers, transport operators as well as owners of the Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) under the Arise Agenda blueprint of the Pastor Umo Eno-led administration.
Speaking during the recent Ministerial Briefing at Akpan Isemin Hall, Government House, Uyo, the state capital, Ekong listed some of the achievements of the ministry to include business support, market infrastructure, investment promotion and industrial development.
The Commissioner explained that the ministry aims at positioning the state as a leading destination for investment, trade, industrialisation and development of micro businesses.
“The Ministry of Trade and Investment has the mandate to reposition the state as a leading investment destination and centre for trade, industrialisation, and growth of small businesses in line with the developmental framework of the ARISE Agenda”, he stated.
He stated that the business grants disbursed were meant to support beneficiaries’ working capital, help them expand their businesses, restock their shops and meet customer demand.
He announced market infrastructure progress at Ikot Ekpene modern International market project designed to accommodate 1,200 shops across 30 market blocks.
Ekong added that facilities at the International market include wholesale and distribution warehouses, administrative building, dedicated power station, borehole water supply, cooling facility, modern slaughterhouse, two restaurants and internal roads.
He said the project’s perimeter fence was 95 per cent complete, with installation of gates to be completed.
“The ministry is also planning industrial complexes for agricultural processing as part of efforts to attract investors and create more opportunities for local businesses”, he said.
According to him, the ministry was working with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council to promote non-oil exports and develop a framework to help local producers reach wider markets.
“The ministry is also monitoring locally produced commodities, including cocoa, palm oil, palm kernel, rubber and ginger, to check their quality and classification and track their movement.
“The exercise is expected to help check smuggling and reduce revenue losses”, he explained.
He added that the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) programme, supported by the World Bank, was reviewing regulations, permits, fees and administrative procedures that affect businesses, with the aim of making it easier for them to operate and improve transparency.
“The ministry is providing technical, administrative and financial training, as well as consultancy services, to micro, small and medium-size enterprises.
“It is also researching locally available raw materials and working with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and Corporate Affairs Commission to help businesses meet required standards”, Ekong added.

By: Enoch Epelle

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has called for an increase in the derivation allocation to oil-producing states from the current minimum of 13 per cent to 50 per cent.
The group also called for acceleration of completion of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway and urgent environmental remediation across the Niger Delta states.
The demands were contained in a communiqué issued on Tuesday at the end of a joint meeting of the Forum’s Board of Trustees and National Executive Committee, held in Abuja to mark its 10th anniversary.
The communique, read by the Chairman, National Executive Committee of PANDEF, Ambassador Godknows Igali, noted that the meeting brings together political leaders, traditional rulers, former governors, former ministers and other stakeholders from Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers States to discuss issues affecting the oil producing region.
It called for the increase in derivation allocation to enable oil-producing communities to address years of environmental degradation, health challenges and developmental deficits associated with oil and gas exploration.
The Forum also called on the Federal Government, the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and the National Assembly to urgently abolish the onshore/offshore e allocation, stating that offshore petroleum operations also affect the marine ecosystems and fishing grounds on which coastal communities depend. dichotomy in revenue allocation, stating that offshore petroleum operations also affect the marine ecosystems and fishing grounds on which coastal communities depend.
As part of its anniversary reflections, the Forum expressed concern over the environmental consequences of more than six decades of oil and gas exploration in the Niger Delta.
It specifically identified Nembe Creek in Bayelsa State, Odidi in Delta State and Kula in Rivers State as areas requiring urgent environmental attention.
PANDEF called for adequate, sustained and transparent funding of the Ogoni clean-up programme, urging the Federal Government to develop a comprehensive framework for extending environmental remediation to other affected communities across the region.
The organisation also challenged presidential candidates in the 2027 general elections to demonstrate their commitment to environmental justice by presenting practical, measurable and time-bound plans for cleaning up polluted communities and restoring damaged ecosystems.
It stated that environmental protection must remain central to the development agenda of governments at all levels, given the impact of pollution on the livelihoods and economic well-being of the people.
On infrastructure, PANDEF described the accelerated completion of the 750-kilometre Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway as non-negotiable, noting that the project has a long history in discussions about the connectivity and economic integration of Nigeria’s coastal communities.
It also welcomed approvals for proposed deep-sea port projects, including the Ibom Deep Sea Port in Akwa Ibom, Bonny Deep Sea Port in Rivers and Agge Deep Sea Port in Bayelsa.
PANDEF said the strategic location of the region’s ports could strengthen trade links with East, Central and Southern Africa, improve access to international maritime routes and enable Nigeria to benefit more from the African Continental Free Trade Area.
However, it urged the Federal Government to establish a sustainable financing framework for the port projects comparable to arrangements adopted for major port infrastructure around the Lagos corridor.

The organisation argued that modern ports, supported by effective transport infrastructure, would expand commercial activities and create opportunities for economic growth across the Niger Delta.
PANDEF also called for increased investment in natural gas development, gas-based industries and power generation, noting that the Niger Delta holds more than 209 trillion standard cubic feet of natural gas reserves.
It urged federal and state governments to accelerate investment in gas infrastructure, mini-liquefied natural gas facilities, liquefied petroleum gas and compressed natural gas hubs, petrochemicals and other value-added industries.
The Forum said developing the sector would promote industrialisation, improve electricity supply, generate employment and enhance economic prosperity in the region and the country at large.
On petroleum refining, PANDEF called for renewed priority for modular refineries, including the establishment of an appropriate framework for financing, licensing, technical support and environmental compliance.
It said modular refineries could complement large-scale facilities, including the Dangote Refinery and government-owned refineries, while reducing dependence on imported petroleum products, and supporting local enterprises in creating jobs.
The Forum recalled that a dedicated Modular Refinery Development Fund had previously been envisaged as a means of mobilising financing for viable facilities and expanding economic opportunities in the downstream petroleum sector.
Beyond oil and gas, PANDEF urged the Federal Government and the six South-South state governments to make agriculture a central pillar of the region’s economic diversification strategy.
It identified palm oil, rice, cassava, vegetables, horticultural products and other crops suited to the region’s ecological conditions as priority areas for investment and value addition.
The organisation called for coordinated agricultural programmes that would provide improved seedlings, mechanisation, irrigation and water management, rural roads, storage facilities, agro-processing industries, affordable financing and better market access for farmers.
It said the Niger Delta’s rainfall, water resources and ecological diversity offered significant opportunities to expand agricultural production, strengthen food security and reduce dependence on petroleum revenues.
PANDEF also announced plans to explore the establishment of a South-South Investment Fund to mobilise resources from individuals, businesses, institutions and other stakeholders for investments in critical sectors of the regional economy.
The proposed market-based fund, according to the communiqué, would support enterprise development, job creation, regional connectivity and sustainable economic growth.
The Forum said it would continue consultations with relevant stakeholders, particularly those in the private sector, to develop a workable framework for the initiative.
Reflecting on its first decade, PANDEF said it had recorded progress in advancing the interests of the South-South through public advocacy, civic engagement and constructive dialogue with the Federal Government.
It recalled that its 16-point agenda was presented to former President MuhammaduBuhari on November 1, 2016, as a framework for addressing the region’s developmental concerns.
Among the achievements highlighted were the establishment of the South-South Development Commission, the commencement of activities at the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State, and the upgrading of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria in Oron, AkwaIbom State.
The Forum also cited its sustained advocacy for greater participation of South-South people in the oil and gas industry, improved infrastructure, the development and operation of regional ports, and greater local participation in securing oil and gas assets.
It commended its leadership for efforts towards restoring peace in Rivers State and acknowledged ongoing engagements aimed at resolving the oil-well dispute between AkwaIbom and Cross River states.
PANDEF also highlighted its efforts to promote improved inter-ethnic relations in Warri, Delta State, and peaceful coexistence among communities across the region.
The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to working with state governors, members of the National Assembly, traditional rulers, political leaders, business interests and other stakeholders to advance the collective interests of the South-South.
The anniversary meeting paid tribute to the founding fathers of PANDEF, who brought together various regional organisations under a common platform a decade ago.

By: Enoch Epelle

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has approved the payment of a 13th-month pension bonus to all pensioners in the state, as well as a one-off welfare support of N10,000 in November 2026.
Speaking at the Ibom Hall grounds in Uyo last Friday, during the presentation of a merit award by the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners and an endorsement of his second-term bid, Eno said pensioners deserved to rest well after their meritorious service to the State.
He said he was particularly impressed by the pensioners’ sense of gratitude and assured them that the state government, under his leadership, would continue to prioritise the welfare of pensioners and elderly citizens.
He said, “This is indeed humbling to me. It shows that you are truly technocrats with a laudable sense of organisation.

You may be retired but not tired. I celebrate and appreciate you greatly.
“I am now directing that N10,000 be added to the November 2026 pension payment of every pensioner in support of your welfare.”
He urged them to enrol in the state’s health insurance scheme, which he said was free for people aged 65 and above, to enable them to enjoy quality healthcare.
Eno recalled that he had promised to clear the backlog of gratuities, adding that N100billion had so far been paid from the accumulated N111bn owed since 2012, and assured the pensioners that the outstanding balance would be cleared before the end of his first term.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for making funds available to states, saying this had enabled him to fulfil his promise to clear the gratuity arrears.
Eno called on the pensioners to vote massively for Tinubu in the 2027 elections, saying this would ensure the continued availability of funds for the prompt payment of gratuities and pensions, as well as other welfare packages.
He also urged pensioners from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District to vote for the re-election of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Responding, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Comrade Mazi Godwin Ikechukwu Abumisi, commended Eno for what he described as his compassion and care for pensioners in the state.
Abumisi also praised Eno’s leadership and development efforts and urged pensioners across the state to support his second-term bid in 2027.
Earlier, in his welcome remarks, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Pastor Sylvester Nkodo, thanked Eno for his leadership, saying his commitment to the welfare of elderly people and retired public servants was heartwarming.
“Governor UmoEno is a true leader with the heart for humanity who deserves prayers and support from the people. I urge pensioners to support his administration”, he said.

By; Enoch Epelle