- Urges APC govt to make Ibom Deep Seaport top priority
The leadership of the Ibibio Traditional Council in Akwa Ibom State has linked the rising cases of criminal activities and youth restiveness in various communities within the state to joblessness and high unemployment rate in Akwa Ibom State.
Oku Ibom Ibibio, His Eminence, Ntenyin (Dr.) Solomon Daniel Etuk stated this last Friday while receiving the President of the Senate and former governor of the state, Senator Godswill Akpabio and his entourage comprising some members of the National Assembly, in his palace in Nsit Ubium.
Ntenyin Solomon Etuk in his plea to the Senator Godswill Akpabio said, “Don’t forget your brothers and sisters, my children all over. Do as much as possible to ensure that our children have what to do. We are battling with youth restiveness in our communities due to joblessness.”
Oku Ibom Ibibio who was flanked during the visit by other traditional rulers in Akwa Ibom State appealed to the Senate President to make Ibom Deep Seaport his priority as such project will create job for Akwa Ibom youths and checkmate youth restiveness in the State.He thanked the Senate President and other Senators for all the good works they have been doing as lawmakers, especially the recently passed bill on defilement of minors and its legal consequences.
“We want to use this opportunity to appeal, that Ibom deep sea port that you that started something should be among your priorities, that is our very serious concern. Ibom Deep Seaport will create jobs for our son’s and daughters. A seaport is very very important here, we cannot have rivers around here yet we don’t have seaport. To whom much is given, much is expected!”
Earlier in his speech, Senator Akpabio thanked the royal fathers for the grand reception even without any prior notice, describing Ntenyin as a man of peace.
According to National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), report published in the second quarter of 2020 unemployment rate in Akwa Ibom was 45.2%, making it the second highest in Nigeria.
Recent studies highlighting high rate of youth unemployment in the state, with one report indicating over 52% of the youth were unemployed in 2022.
