Pastor Umo Eno, the governor of Akwa Ibom State, has issued warnings to persons and organizations that hastily and arbitrarily install unlawful structures on road sides in an effort to receive compensation from the state government.
Aside from impeding development efforts, he continued, such illegal structures will not be supported.
In Ikot Ekpene Udo, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area of the State, the governor made a point of telling a congregation during a service of thanksgiving that his administration would only provide compensation for structures that had received proper certification.
The community’s roadsides have seen an indiscriminate rise in unwanted structures, which Governor Eno criticized. He called the action anti-development and said it was motivated by a desire to steal money from the government. He also ordered the owners of the uninvited structures to demolish them right now.
“Please, to those of you who heard me say that we were going to build roads, we are thankful that our traditional leaders and the local chiefs of these villages are present.
“I would want to take this opportunity to ask to anyone building unlawful buildings along the road in the hopes of receiving compensation to kindly stop doing so.
“This is a very serious warning; if we bring a project to your town and you block it because you want payment, we will leave and bring the project to another community.
I won’t exert much effort to assist the locals. The local government, village, or community should welcome and support us if we visit for development. Rural development is something for which we are ready. Although we are ready to work, please don’t let any sort of resistance stand in our way when we arrive.
He said, “Paying compensation for already-existing, older structures is appropriate, but we won’t pay for hastily built buildings.”
The governor further ordered local government council chairs to release 100 hectares of land within their jurisdictions for development projects, explaining that this would help his administration carry out the A.R.I.S.E. agenda’s goal of bringing development to the people.
He thanked the public for its support, which helped him win the recent general elections and led to his election as governor. He praised the church in particular for joining forces with other denominations to praise God for his electoral victory.
It’s just a chance, says the speaker. I may not be able to visit every church individually, but it does not mean I won’t accept your offer when it is appropriate, he remarked.
A man after God’s heart is diligent in his ways, humble in the Lord, and completely dependent on God, the Area Superintendent of the Church, Apostle E.E. Inyang, warned in his sermon on the topic “A man After God’s Heart,” drawing inspiration from Acts 13:17–22 and 1st Samuel 16:3,13. He also added that a man led by the spirit of God enjoys favor, protection, and blessing, does not stop his journey halfway, and is compassionate and generous to the less
