Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA) | AKSEPWMA Conducts extensive Sanitation Mop-Up

AKSEPWMA Conducts extensive Sanitation Mop-Up

admin — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 20:13:51 +0000

AKSEPWMA Conducts extensive Sanitation Mop-Up Following extensive pre- and post-sanitation activities, AKSEPWMA conducted a thorough mop-up exercise yesterday.

The agency, which has received accolades from national leaders for its top-notch work, efficiently collected and transported all accumulated waste to the dump site. Chairman of AKSEPWMA and security expert, Obong Prince Ikim, along with several board members, personally oversaw the operation, ensuring its success. The exercise continues
…
SEE PHOTOS!

© Information unit

AKSEPWMA

ONGOING! Pre-Sanitation Exercise in Uyo Metropolis

admin — Sat, 06 Jul 2024 16:13:09 +0000

Did you know that the influx of people into Akwa Ibom State has significantly increased waste generation in the Uyo metropolis?

To address this pressing issue, the State Governor, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, known for his zero tolerance towards waste as part of The ARISE Agenda, has mobilized the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA) for an intensive pre-sanitation exercise, which is currently ongoing across the Uyo metropolis.

At the time of this report, the Chairman of AKSEPWMA, Obong Prince Ikim, was personally visiting all dump points to ensure the success of this crucial exercise. The security expert and politician used the occasion to emphasize the need for community participation in the upcoming Saturday Sanitation exercise to maintain Akwa Ibom’s status as the cleanest state in the country and to prevent diseases like cholera, which are caused by poor sanitary conditions.

He stated that the agency, under his leadership, has mapped out strategies in line with international best practices to protect our environment, urging residents to cooperate and avoid illegal dumping.

See photos and stay tuned for more updates!

© Information Unit
AKSEPWMA
27/06/2024

Cholera Outbreak: AKSEPWMA Urges Residents to Maintain Hygiene, Proper Waste Management

admin — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 15:50:50 +0000

In response to the state’s increased measures to prevent a cholera outbreak, the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA), Obong (Dr.) Prince Ikim, has called on residents to maintain high standards of personal and domestic hygiene.

Dr. Ikim made this appeal while speaking with journalists on Saturday during this month’s statewide environmental sanitation exercise. Although there have been no reported cases of cholera in Akwa Ibom, Dr. Ikim emphasized the importance of proactive measures to protect residents from the disease, which has claimed lives and hospitalized many in other states. “Cholera is a severe diarrheal illness caused by infection with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It spreads primarily through contaminated water and food, thriving in unsanitary conditions,” Dr. Ikim explained. He highlighted the agency’s intensified efforts to educate residents on proper waste disposal, frequent hand-washing with soap, and the use of proper sanitation facilities. “AKSEPWMA is committed to ensuring that waste generated across the state is promptly and efficiently managed, with service providers working around the clock to clean up black spots,” Dr. Ikim added. He praised the citizens’ participation in this month’s sanitation exercise, which focused on waste evacuation, and called for continued cooperation to support government efforts. The sanitation exercise began with a pre-sanitation effort on Thursday and Friday, involving massive waste evacuation at dump points across the Uyo metropolis. As of the time of filing this report, the agency had concluded the main sanitation exercise between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. and was conducting a post-sanitation exercise that will continue throughout next week.

Dr. Ikim was accompanied by board members, including Hon. Victor Henry, Prince Charles-Uwem Ememobong, Engr. Ekaete Inyang FNSE, Engr. Anietie Elijah, and other management staff of AKSEPWMA.

Akwa Ibom, Eco-friendly environment and entrepreneurship, By Vincent Allu

admin — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 13:36:05 +0000

With a clear understanding of the role the environment will play in the success of his administration, the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, made copious provisions for environmental protection and management in his economic blueprint known as ARISE Agenda. It is captured in the first aspiration of the agenda, namely: “Agricultural Revolution, Tourism and Environmental Management”.

The policy direction includes sustainability of the environment, protection and conservation of natural resources, mitigation of adverse effect of climate change, promotion of the culture and habits that ensure sustainable use of the environment and the ecosystem in economic activities, promotion of the use of green growth initiative and developing of a sustainable blue economy, to foster direct participation in oil and gas upstream and downstream activities as well as explore, exploit and develop solid minerals, mining and allied sectors.

The select strategies designed to drive the achievement of a safe, clean and sustainable environment includes setting up adequate structure to tackle flood and erosion, promoting improved environmental management practice with adequate legislation in line with global best practice, promoting improved waste management and recycling system, enhancing public and corporate partnership in environmental management, beautification and protection as well as adopting standard environmental impact assessment procedure for public infrastructure development.

With the discussion on environment now centred on waste to wealth, Governor Eno has since given the Akwa Ibom State Environment Protection and Waste Management Agency, AKSEPWMA, the directive to engage relevant professionals who would guarantee judicious recycling of wastes generated in the state and convert same to wealth for the good of all.

Highlighting the need for proper management and protection of the environment, Governor Eno said, “the environment is like our living room in our various houses. We furnish it to taste with modern amenities to make it habitable, comfortable and enjoyable. This attitude should be replicated when we deal with the environment. My administration will guarantee a clean, safe and secure environment. The relevant Ministry and Agency will be repositioned to enable us derive all the benefits from the environment. We will pursue the waste-to-wealth initiative and ensure that no waste generated is wasted, rather they will be transformed to other resources to help push the human race forward in line with the ARISE Agenda”.

One of the deepest concerns of Governor Eno is for the state and every living thing on it to be safe and secure. He understands that without a healthy planet, education won’t matter, hunger won’t matter, and science won’t matter because no one will survive. In ARISE Agenda, there are deliberate plans to protect and sustain the development of forests and reduction in emissions, encouraging planting and replacing trees.

Also important is the issue of having a state climate change policy, reviewing environmental policy and establishment of a full fledged climate change Agency to be managed by professionals, who are more knowledgeable in climate integration and adaptation.

The government of Governor Eno is determined to choose from a wide range of policy interventions and financing measures to support the transformation of energy, tackle environmental pollution and replenish natural environment. Legislation to ban environmentally harmful energy will be made while encouraging use of green energy. The government is also poised to ensure free plastic in the state by encouraging a ban on all plastic bags and plastic packaging.

Speaking on the track record of the AKSEPWMA, the Board Chairman, Prince Akpan Ikim lauded the aspiration, policy direction and select strategies of the ARISE Agenda as it relates to the environment and said much has been achieved with more yet to be done. “Our Agency has a duty to protect the environment and manage wastes but beyond these, will generate income, wealth and jobs for the unemployed and ensure a safe environment.

One of our major breakthroughs is the fact that our state has been voted and awarded the cleanest state in Nigeria for five consecutive years by the International Council for Local Environment Initiative and Clean Up Nigeria. We are pursuing our mandate of waste evacuation, vegetation control, desilting of gutters and drainages, vigorously, to ensure that under the Umo Eno Administration, the state will continue to top the chart of the cleanest state in Nigeria”.

The success story of the Environment Protection and Waste Management Agency under Prince Ikim is a commendable starting point for Governor Eno Administration. Over the years, AKSEPWMA, has not only increased its public image from 5% to 45%; public awareness and sensitisation stands at 51% from 2%; street cleaning and vegetation control moved to 53% from 5%, desilting of gutters stands at 58%, sanitation court prosecution of environmental defaulters stands at 1,427 cases, intervention on emergency case, waste clearance stands at 68% from 7 %, staff morale heightened to 63% from 5% etc. The agency now has acquired its own dumpsite along Uyo Village Road for proper management of the over 2000 tonnes of municipal and household waste generated daily.

Before 2018, the dump site management was at 23% but today it has gone above 68 %. The board got approval for bioremediation and maintenance of that dumpsite and work is ongoing at the moment.

The Agency has adopted a bottom-up approach leading to community participation in waste management in the rural areas, commenced house-to-house waste collection in Ewet Housing Estate and Shelter Afrique Estate, took delivery of scores of waste management equipment from the NDDC, procured and deployed over 500 waste receptacles and unveiled the first ever AKSEPWMA corporate logo and bulletin. The amendment of the AKSEPWMA enabling laws to give way for 21st century environmental management, was a major win for the agency. The launch of the Greater Akwa Ibom Clean Up Campaign, to sustain the status of the cleanest State in the country is a bold step in the right direction.

On the waste-to-wealth initiative recently adopted by the Agency, Ikim said, “globally there is nothing wasted in waste anymore. Waste now transformed to wealth, recycled into other renewable energy and resources. To make this happen, we have called for expression of interests from experts in the area of waste to wealth. We have waste in abundance to drive this initiative. Sue to growing population, more than 2200 tonnes of waste is produced daily. These include degradable and bio-degradable wastes. Bio-degradable wastes can be used to produce fertilisers. We will be involved also in plastic recycling, cardboard and paper recycling, and electronic waste recycling. The economic importance of what we do boosts income generation, job and wealth creation as well as improve standard of living of the people.”

According to Anietie Usen, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Governor: “There is a global sensitization and sensitivity right now on environmental protection and management. Gladly, Akwa Ibom State through AKSEPWMA is in the forefront of ensuring a clean, safe and healthy environment. It is not surprising that the state has won the award as the cleanest state in Nigeria for five straight years, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, under former Governor Udom Emmanuel. This is the benchmark that Governor Umo Eno and his ARISE Agenda plan to surpass”.

This global attention on environment presupposes that huge investment opportunities abound in the area of waste to wealth. The ARISE Agenda has made provisions for the State to benefit from the investments in this sector in order to boost income generation, job creation and wealth creation for our teeming youths, while ensuring a healthy environment for habitation of our people”, Usen said.

But there are a number of challenges in managing the environment in the Akwa Ibom State. Ikim said some of the challenges include the influx of new residents into the state and the careless attitude of residents to waste disposal which has blocked gutters and led to flooding in some areas of the state. Other challenges facing AKSEPWMA include lack of suitable equipment like the Swing Arm trucks, roll-up trucks, backhoes, bulldozers, compactors, sufficient dumpsters, receptacles, sanitary landfills, etc.

In spite of these challenges, the strong leadership of AKSEPWMA has combined with its d educated staff to keep Akwa Ibom clean and attractive to both residents and visitors. There are high hopes that Governor Eno, a hospitality professional and tourism expert, will surpass all previous Administrations in keeping the State eco-friendly, clean and serene.

Vincent Aluu is a Research Scholar and Public Affairs Analyst.

Governor Emmanuel Tale of Commitment, the Dogged Days in the Frontline of Covid-19 Battle.

admin — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 11:19:12 +0000

It was the world’s most dreadful nightmarish moment that sent shivers through the spines of the global fabric. What began like a mere rumour of fever in faraway Wuhan, China, on November 2019, flared like a wildfire to scourge global existence, destabilizing the global community and replacing old traditions of livelihood with a resurgence of new patterns alien to mankind. The world witnessed for the first time (and perhaps the last) the worst moment of fear.

Akwa Ibom Witnessed the First Case

The first case of Covid-19 was announced in February 2020. It was a moment of panic, but somewhat unbelievable. The panic streamed from varying stems – from the dearth of healthcare facility to the cynical doomsday prediction of the Gates. That year, Bill Gates predicted that Africa would be the worst hit by the pandemic even as corpses will wreath the streets of the continent. That alone was enough to inject fear into the continent, given the poor healthcare services and facilities typical of Third World countries. But the story was different for Akwa Ibom given the swift response by the State Government in providing medical facilities to the effect of the pandemic.

The Land of No Handshake

At face value, Uyo – the Akwa Ibom State’s capital city looks like any other bustling African Capital. Streets are snarled with traffic, restaurants are crowded and sidewalks and sports bars are packed with patrons cheering for their favourite soccer teams. But now, a closer look revealed a population in fear.

The virus was spread through contact with an infected person, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic and in a society habituated to close physical proximity, no one shakes hands anymore – an era that witnessed the demise of the traditional fatigue communion. On Sundays, churchgoers no longer go to churches. Sports we’re discouraged. The city’s air was heavy with the antiseptic stench of chlorine disinfectant wafting from the hand-washing stations found at every street corner and places of businesses. Security guards barricaded every sensitive entrance and gateway of the roads and streets and groceries. Offices wield infrared thermometers to check the temperatures of those who would enter. In a city stalked by death, there was no funeral, for, proper disposal of Covid-19 victims was one of the most essential factors in containing the spread and every corpse was a potential viral bomb and so assumed that every corpse was a potential Covid case. And the battle to contain the spread continued in an unforgiving spate, giving the government a junk of concern to worry about.

Dogged Days In Frontline of The Battle

The Akwa Ibom State Government, led by Mr. Udom Emmanuel pledged a more secure future for the citizenry against the stink of the pandemic, and thus launched the State’s health mercenaries including the State’s Environmental Protection Agency to the frontline of the battle, led by the Chairman – Obong Prince Ikim.

The war against the pandemic was not just a war of courage and commitment but one that must be matched by actions. It demanded public functionaries, like Obong Prince Ikim who manned the environmental management function of the State to do everything and anything within the ambit of the saddle to extend his responsibility to the pathetic reality of the day. And that is what the agency had done since the outbreak of the pandemic.

The exercise was to decontaminate public places from hospitals to markets to churches and sundry public areas of human contact. This was extended vigorously to the 31 local government areas of the State. In the long run of the exercise, it was discovered that the hinterlands were becoming vulnerable as contact tracing of fleeing victims led to the villages, leaving room for community transmission of the virus. I’m day-in-day- out, concerted efforts in decontaminating public places in rural communities.

The decontamination team laboured under extreme risk of contagion, sweltering under layers of protective plastics to penetrate infected areas. The staffers must wear cumbersome bio-hazard suits to do their work and getting new personnel trained for the work must take some weeks. It was a tedious battle for Ikim. He had no choice but to be dogged in the face of the pandemic to help government contain the spread.

In an interview at the General Hospital, Iquita, Oron LGA, he averred that the exercise was as a continuum as the spread was. “The thing is getting more serious than was expected and we must be turgid as an unforgiving soldier at a waterfront “, Ikim never backtracked from that pledge – he fought to the finish line.

A Buffer Was At Hand

Meanwhile, the successes recorded in combating the pandemic in the State were buffered by a second, more obvious prospect – the revamp of a collapsed State’s Healthcare system that was eroding into the abyss before the governor Emmanuel administration. The Akwa Ibom healthcare system, was proactive at the face of the pandemic. It was unlike the cases in several states in Nigeria. In fact, it was a moment that Nigerians decried the unbecoming attitude of government officials who habitually neglected the country’s healthcare for receiving treatments abroad. The outbreak of the pandemic was an eye opener that all was not well with the country – the virus came as a thief

– so unexpectedly to meet Nigerians in a debased defense mechanism – the Health Care system. But Akwa Ibom was a different story.

Moves To Illegalize Street Trading, Illegal Markets – AKHA Steps In

admin — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 21:27:49 +0000

Before Governor Emmanuel assumed office, roadside trading was one of the most worrisome challenges to the Akwa Ibom environment and was fast becoming an untamable culture. Putting an end to such was a colossal war that could hardly be won without the intelligence and fierce resolve of the warlord. Governor Emmanuel had to wage that war with grit, verve and gusto, through the Ikim led AKSEPWMA.

On may 11, 2019, the drive to sustain the cleanliness status by curbing the menace of road side trading with attendant environmental negative consequences in Akwa Ibom State, graduated to its climax as the sanitation Court sitting in Uyo convicted not fewer than 12 road side traders for blocking access roads, displaying wares on Pedestrians and recreational centres as well as selling at unauthorized locations within Ibom Plaza in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

During the Prosecution, the accused persons pleaded guilty of trading at unauthorised locations and littering of environment, which were and are environmental offences under section 4(M) and Punishable under Section 38 of Akwa Ibom State Public Health Law cap. 103 Vol. 5 of 2000.

On the pronouncement of the charges by the Court Clerk, the presiding Magistrate sentenced all those who pleaded guilty to 3 months imprisonment with an option of fine, while the case of those who pleaded not guilty were adjourned till May 27, 2019. These were strong indications that the Akwa Ibom State Government was determined to make the environment clean and safe.

Earlier on Tuesday, April 30, 2019 during a coordinated operation of the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency’s Task Force

Chairman of AKSEPWMA, Obong (Dr.) Prince Ikim, led member of the House Committee on Environment, AKHA on Public Awareness against street trading in Uyo, 2021within Uyo, more than 10 victims were apprehended and prosecuted for indiscriminately dumping of refuse within the State Capital Territory. A month before, the Waste management boss, Ikim, had repeatedly warned all citizens and indigenes of the state against indiscriminate dumping of refuse. In addition, 7days Ultimatum which ended on April 9, was also issued to road side Traders within Ibom Plaza to relocate to the lock up stalls and market shades inside Ibom plaza market for free flow of vehicles on the roads, all these fell on deaf ears.

“The environmental law stipulates that refuse can only be disposed at designated points and whoever dumps refuse or waste anywhere apart from the designated points must be prosecuted. All road side traders within Ibom plaza must relocate to the Plaza market. Taxi and keke drivers must have waste bins in their vehicles, if we catch anyone littering the streets from a vehicle of any sort (private or public) such person(s) had violated the state environmental law and will be made to face the full weight of law” He added.

At this level, street trading was no more business as usual in the state capital, this war was getting tougher as the war Lord was not ready to compromise the cleanliness status of the state.

Relocation of Temporary Dumpsite to a Permanent Site

admin — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 21:22:21 +0000

Akpayak Community located about the barracks road in Uyo, had hosted a dump site for the waste generated from Uyo capital city for years and was decommissioned to Uyo village road before the present administration. There had been an enduring outcry by the host community on the resultant eco- degradation and pollution of the natural resources of the of the environment, horning the need for decommissioning to a permanent dump site. But the expedition of the proposal had suffered bureaucratic bottlenecks before the Udom Emmanuel era berthed. The team comprised a retinue from relevant government quarters including the then Attorney-General of the State and Commissioner for Justice – Barr. Uweme dimo Nwoko, the then Commissioner for Environment – Barr. Ekong Sampson, the Chairman House Committee on Environment – Hon. Asuquo Archibong among others, visited the 11,000 hectares of environment, horning the need for decommissioning to a permanent dump site. But the expedition of the proposal had suffered bureaucratic bottlenecks before the Udom Emmanuel era berthed.

The burden was heavily weighted on the regime to ensure the decommissioning to a permanent dump site. That move was informed by varying reasons bordering on land pollution and the drive to curb landfill which was and is in sync with global best practices of waste management.

On November 30, 2019, barely a year and two months into the Ikim tenure , he led the Sanitation Compliance team on the inspection of the proposed permanent dump site at Odiok Itam, Itu LGA. The Uyo-village road dump site was to become a waste transfer station when all requirements for the operation of the new dump site were met. The stewardship the people enjoyed from the Udom Emmanuel’s administration would remain indelible in the historical archives of environmental management in Akwa Ibom State. One cannot put off the fact that such a stewardship is a statement of unwavering commitment to cutting-edge efforts.

4 Years of Stewardship Milestone in Golden Steps

admin — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 21:10:36 +0000

Being classified as dirty state is nothing to be proud of but until recently during the Governor Udom Emmanuel’s era, that was how Akwa Ibom State was perceived by both visitors and indigenes on account of poor waste management and environmental protection strategies and models.

It is therefore not a surprise that visitors and citizens of the state continue to applaud the recent cleanest status the state has sustained in the past four years under the stewardship of Obong Prince Akpan Ikim and the vision of His Excellency, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, beginning with the administration’s Zero-Waste drive which occasioned the reconstitution of the state’s waste management agency.

When the Government of Akwa Ibom is seen committing so much of its time and resources on clean environment, it is not just focusing on safety or comfort, all of which are extremely important; It is also thinking of trade, attracting national and at international investors to buffer industrialization, boost business opportunities and encourage small scale enterprises. That was squarely the vision stake at the time Governor Emmanuel reconstituted the Agency in 2018 with Dr. Prince Ikim on the saddle. But it is one thing for a visionary to envisage and another for a visionary subject to transmute the vision into tangible reality. One can say that the overall improvement in the environment sector in Akwa Ibom is an outgrowth from Dr. Ikim’s grit of commitment to his saddled task – the management of Akwa Ibom environment – and the commitment to the realization of the vision which his saddle entailed.

Through the Agency’s operational model, in five years, Akwa Ibom State has emerged the Cleanest State for 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, back-to- back (CUN State of the Nation Report, 2022). This achievement is a rare feat for the state since its creation in 1987. And it is hitherto attributable to the effort the agency has conceived and implemented vigorously. In its first four years of stewardship,

AKSEPWMA achieved a spot as a wonder-working Agency with the potency of turning mud into gold. The environmental sector which before now , was deadened, abandoned, excluded and unproductive, has now flourished and blossomed. This has happened only in four years of Governor Emmanuel’ stewardship and the following achievements have been recorded.

In preserving a tradition of cleanliness and excellence in stewardship, Akwa Ibom of today, under the leadership of Udom Emmanuel and stewardship of Dr. Prince Ikim is emerging as one of the most innovative stories in post-colonial Nigeria.

THE ACHIEVEMENTS IN FIVE YEARS

CREATION OF A NEW ROAD MAP

At the time Governor Emmanuel reconstituted the Agency, there was nothing on ground for the agency to start with. ‘‘We succeeded to inherit a bald blueprint’’. The Board Chairman once posited that ‘‘AKSEPWMA had to bend over backwards to get things working at the pace it is’’, and that pace is one that matches globally- attuned standards. And the result is a huge triumph over hurdles.

The first port of call was to create a new Road Map to greatness. First, given the dearth of working tools, AKSEPWMA went to work by hiring equipment. Few weeks afterwards, it began to acquire the necessary equipment where over 40% of needed Equipment, including tractors, We are developing a roadmap to actualise our dream of the cleanest state in Nigeria.

Governor Emmanuel flagged off programs that were in sync with global best practices in September 2018. By December that year, Akwa Ibom State emerged the Cleanest State in the country.

The year following, that is 2019, the agency had not only increased her public image from 5% to 65%, but had emerged the cleanest State in Nigeria. That was when the words of L. Gant came into the picture, that “He who can see the invisible, can do the impossible”.

WASTE TO WEALTH INITIATIVE

AKSEPWMA integrated workable schemes to maximize the waste-based revenues in the form of energy, fuels, heat, recyclables, value-added products and chemicals along with more jobs and business opportunities.

To achieve this, a dialogue was in focus. On Wednesday, October 30, 2019, the Agency held a maiden stakeholders dialogue – an event that played host to thousands of professionals, consultants, researchers et cetera, on waste management, at the prestigious Ibom Hall, Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital. The event was not only billed to generate revenue but in tandem with the State government’s innovative effort to better the lives of the populace through employment generation for the masses. Waste in the 21st century is wealth but takes technicalities in the conversion process, for which reason the dialogue was held. Akwa Ibom at that event was launched into a new phase where waste would no longer be seen as refuse or discarded material, but an asset or resource to reduce not only the landfill volumes but also the dependency on fossil fuels by generating clean fuels. Before the dialogue, waste collection from households and its transportation to designated dump sites had always been delivered by the Agency through appointed contractors, which had, not always seen the light of the day. Citizens and residents would often dump in landfills and scavengers who moved about would scavenge whatever they could for resale, thereby smothering the revenue yielding potentials of over 18,000 tons of waste generated in our state per day.

The Profile of Obong (DR.) Prince Ikim

admin — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 20:42:40 +0000

Born more than four decades ago to a renowned Royal family in Ikot Utiat Village, Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Obong (Dr.) Prince Akpan Ikim is delectable with a humble mien. Having completed his primary and Post- Primary Education, the tall son of the Abak Midim Clan proceeded to the Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic where he made several impacts in social, academic and student politics. He has a Post-Graduate Diploma from the prestigious University of Uyo in Peace & Conflict Studies and Reading for Masters in the same field.

CAREER
Before the desire for effective leadership got him into politics, Ikim was a trained Security personnel who worked with the Department of State Security , where he rendered his services with sheer diligence.

He was trained at the prestigious Security Services Academy, Ojo – Lagos State. He attended the Institute of Security Services – Abuja and the Professional School of Security Israel. His wealth of Knowledge and experience in the security sector earned him the position of Security Consultant to Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, Area East.

As a security Personnel, he was not found

wanting because he acquired all the necessary knowledge and skills. Ikim also attended the prestigious professional

school of security, Tel Aviv, Israel, where he acquired knowledge on:

·       Security Leadership Management

·       Updated Security Procedures

·       Security System Drawings

·       Radical Islamic Sect and related documentation

·       Development of Procedure for emergency Response and Crisis Management, Physical Security, Information Protection, Incident Management,
Investigation and Counter-Terrorism.

SERVICES

Ikim was an attendee of the Stakeholders Dialogue with the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons Proliferation in Nigeria -2017, Niger-Delta dialogue.

He was also an attendee, National workshop/training on Economic and Financial Crimes, Anti-Corruption, Fiscal Responsibility and Good Governance for States and Local Government Officials.

LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

As an erudite former Student leader and distinguished Administrator par excellence, Prince Ikim has held many Leadership positions among which are:

– Former Secretary – Transition Committee, – Former Chairman – Transition Committee both in Oruk Anam Local Government Council.

His passion for effective representation got him on the aspiration to represent Oruk Anam in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly in 2011. Though many factors truncated that burning zeal, the 2011 PDP Oruk Anam State House of Assembly Primaries and the general elections remain historic in the political narratives of Oruk Anam LGA.

Prince Ikim is the Director General – Mkparawa Martha Udom Emmanuel, International President – Abak Division Youth Movement, Provost Marshall – Ati Annang, Oruk Anam Chapter, Director Of Intelligence- Akwa Ibom State Youth Caucus and the Commander General, Supreme Council Of Oruk Anam Youths. He is the Director of Security & Intelligence, Akwa Ibom State Ward Leaders Union.

Hon. Ikim was appointed and subsequently sworn in as the Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency by Governor Udom Emmanuel on September 5, 2018. His antecedent, passion and dedication to services earned him the status of the most performing Board Chairman in Akwa Ibom State. He is the Organizing Secretary, Forum of Board Chairman, Agencies, Commissions and Technical Committees and currently the Secretary General of the Forum.

Since his appointment, Akwa Ibom State has witnessed a significant change in the a r e a of Waste management and environmental protection. As the most performing Board Chairman in Akwa Ibom State, some of his achievements include:

~Bio-Remediation repairs and rehabitation of the dump site.

~Acquisition of new compactors for waste Evacuation

~Acquisition of new swing- Arm Trucks

~ Procurement of new dumpsters

~Procurement of new receptacles

~Curbed the menace of Street Trading within the major cities in the State

~desilting of gutters in all major roads and flood-prone areas in Akwa Ibom

~decontamination of all public places against the spread of the novel COVID-19 pandemic

~facilitated the employment of over 6000 people in his Agency.

~ 2019 State-wide stakeholders’ dialogue on refuse to riches. The first-ever waste Management dialogue in Akwa Ibom had the theme; “Refuse to Riches”.

The dialogue assembled representatives of top government functionaries at all levels, Local Government Chairmen, the Judiciary, Legislators International Oil Companies, Ministries, Departments, Agencies, security operatives, entrepreneurs, professional bodies and potential investors in the waste- to-wealth project.

Through PPP arrangements Ikim commenced the house-to-house waste evacuation initiative in Akwa Ibom State in 2021.

AWARDS AND INVESTITURE

Hon Prince Akpan Ikim has so many awards to his credit.

He bagged the national merit award of Good Governance from the Independent Magazine publishers Association of Nigeria (IMPAN) in 2020.

His cordial relationship and partnership with the media earned him the award of Most Media-friendly Board Chairman in Akwa Ibom State in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

On-Air Personality Award of Excellence

Merit Award Mboho Anam

Award of Excellence as Ambassador of Peace by the Vigillante group of Nigeria

Award of Excellence by Akwa Esop Ikpaisong Ibibio.

Award of Excellence Leadership and Productivity by National Productivity Centre in collaboration with Leadership and Professional Ethics Consult.

On September 2019, Prince Ikim, amongst other 16 eminent Nigerians, was honoured with the Award of Ambassador of Peace by the World peace Prayer Society in collaboration with the United Nations, during the 2019 United Nations International Day of Peace celebration in Nigeria.

His kinsmen under the auspices of the Association of Oruk Anam indigenes in Lagos, also honoured him, with an Award of Excellence, in recognition of his contributions and exemplary leadership towards the growth and development of the community.

He is a Member Institute of Industrialist and Corporate Administration.

Fellow Institute of Industrialist and Corporate Administration and Fellow Institute of Corporate Administration.

In 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 respectively, Akwa Ibom was rated the Cleanest State in Nigeria. Therefore, while counting those that have contributed immensely towards the transformation of Uyo and Akwa Ibom State in general, Prince Ikim towers above his peers. This explains why he was crowned as the “OBONG NSEHE UYO” by the traditional Rulers Council of Uyo.

· Obong Idotenyin Nung Ita,
· Akwa Esang Ubong Abak Midim,
· Obong Unwana of Atan Offot,
· INWEK ANNANG etc.

Citizens Extol Governor Emmanuel, Ikim Over Sustained Desilting of Drainage In Uyo

admin — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 14:56:48 +0000

Since the commencement of massive desilting of drains within the State capital as well as other city centers across the State, residents, motorists and citizens of Akwa Ibom State have unceasingly applauded Governor Emmanuel, for fulfilling his promise of ensuring that all drains are properly and timely desilted before and during rainy seasons. Recall that in the last quarter of 2019 , Governor Emmanuel while embarking on a working visit to flood- prone areas around Abak road, Nkemba street, Atan Offot, Uruan Street, Mbiabong amongst other areas, had given a matching order to the relevant Agency to ensure that important measures were taken to mitigate flood. Few weeks after the Governor’s directives, the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA) under the leadership of Obong Prince Ikim landed on the major roads and streets to carry out the Governor’s directives across the state metropolis.

At this, the ball was passed to Ikim’s court. The task of desilting the drains in a city center where the entire drainage system was abandoned for 12 years with silts clogged to the brims, was not an easy one. But Ikim was at the goal of reaching a flood- free Akwa Ibom, which the Governor directed.

Daring the rains

The menace of flooding in Akwa Ibom State before Obong Prince Ikim assumed office as the environment helmsman, had gotten out of hand and was herculean to tackle. Strategic measures to root causes beckoned which more often than not demanded a “thought outside the box” to streamline appropriate remedial remedial.

Flood control & Desilting

Thus, on Wednesday, July 6, 2021 Ikim began daring the rains by inspecting drainage and gutters across noted flood- prone areas while it rained, to have a firsthand observation and identification of trouble spots. He said that inspecting the drains while it rained was the best strategy to overhaul and tackle back flow of water in the environment, saying that AKSEPWMA is bent on tackling environmental issues with best strategies. At Atiku Abubakar Way, it was discovered that residents at the instance of the rain had disposed heavy chunk of garbage into the gutters to be flushed by the gushing flow. This contributed to blocked gutters around the city center. Similar anomaly was spotted at Abak road opposite the State Secretariat, causing a major backflow, albeit was swiftly intervened by AKSEPWMA Intervention team.