AKSG releases funds for Itam referral hospital

Governor Akpabio receiving the final Outline Business Case (OBS) on Ibaka deep seaport from the Chairman of Ibaka Project Steering Committee, Mr. Dikko Bala (left), in company of Mrs Aisha Achimgu (middle) at the Governor’s office Uyo.

Akwa Ibom Govern ment has released  N3.5 billion for the procurement of equipment for the 308-bed Referral Hospital, Itam in the state.

Governor Godswill Akpabio, who dropped this hint Thursday when participants of Senior Course 37 from Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji  for a study tour in the state, paid him a courtesy visit in Governor’s Office, Uyo, said some foreign medical experts would soon arrive the hospital to commence major kidney transplant operation, which would curb medical tourism by Nigerians to overseas.

Akpabio, who told the participants that the hospital formed part of his uncommon programme in the state for the past seven and half years which they should be interested to study and write about.

He observed that the outcome of the study tour by the armed forces would assist both his administration and the incoming administration to add value and enhance the living standards of the people through agriculture, disclosing that his successor will engage more in commerce and industry for the economic growth of the state.

Akpabio stated that his administration has recorded success in the agricultural sector through the Integrated Farmers Scheme (IFS), a programme that trains young graduates in every local government area and gives out N50,000 grant to each to start any modern farming to help take the youths off the streets.

He further hinted that his administration has carried the women along through the Women in Agricultural Development Programme (WADEP), where women in every local government area of the state are trained and empowered with N250,000 interest-free loan to purchase seedlings.

Speaking earlier, the team leader of the study tour, Deputy Commandant of the college, Rear Admiral Slyvanus Abbah, said the visit to the state has afforded the participants an opportunity of conducting an on-the-spot study of issues relating to exploring the agriculture potentials of the state for sustainable socio-economic development with a view to proffering solutions to the problem.

Abba, who explained that the theme of the study tour was ‘Exploring the Agricultural Potentials of the state for Sustainable Socio-Economic Development”  said the tour would also prepare the participants who are not only Nigerian officers but also officers from other African countries and paramilitary services for both and staff appointments.