Akwa Ibom State is home to expansive infrastructure projects and oil wealth, but beneath the surface lies a difficult and ongoing fight against corruption. The successes and failures of 2023 created a mosaic of development that left the populace cautious but optimistic.
On the positive side, the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly took a bold step, adopting the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Disclosure Portal, a first in Nigeria. This online platform ensures transparency in bidding processes and contract awards, potentially curbing opportunities for backroom deals. Additionally, the Akwa Ibom State Public Procurement Agency (AKSIBWA) continues to implement stricter procurement guidelines, with recent efforts focused on capacity building for contractors and civil servants.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) also registered some wins, with convictions of high-profile individuals, including a former commissioner, and proactive investigations into suspicious public-sector activities. However, critics pointed to the slow pace of prosecutions and the perception of selectivity in targeting offenders.
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the media played their part. Grassroots advocacy campaigns by groups like Transparency International raised public awareness about corruption risks, while investigative journalism exposed irregularities in land allocations and contract execution. Yet, threats and intimidation against outspoken activists cast a shadow of fear, raising concerns about a shrinking space for dissent.
According to Lovina Anthony, a reporter for the Daily Post Nigeria, one key cause for concern is the recent supplemental budget that the State House of Assembly passed. Due to the absence of open public consultations and worries about possible financial abuse, the addition of N150 billion, bringing the amended budget’s total to N850 billion, sparked criticism.
The ordinary experiences of Akwa Ibom residents may hold the key to understanding the region’s struggle against corruption. Access to essential services is still dependent on “knowing someone,” petty bribery persists in public office, and many people’s reality still differs greatly from their expectations of affluence. This disparity feeds public mistrust and emphasizes the necessity of a multifaceted strategy that addresses structural issues as well as personal beliefs.
The fight against corruption in Akwa Ibom ultimately depends on continued attention to detail, steadfast support from all parties involved, and a shared desire for a time when the region’s oil wealth results in real benefits for all residents. Only then can the echoes of progress truly drown out the lingering whispers of peril.
INIUBONG EMMANUEL SAM is a public Affairs Analyst
