July 27, (THEWILL) – The multi-billion naira security villages built across the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom are gradually disintegrating, even as most of them are becoming a haven for miscreants.
The security villages, built by the Akwa Ibom Government as residential quarters for top security personnel and senior officials of the 31 local government councils in the state, were to support the “Housing for All” policy of former Governor Godswill Akpabio’s administration in the state.
The estates, made up of several detached bungalows with sporting and recreational facilities were built within each council headquarters in the state and meant to accommodate the council chairmen, secretaries, heads of personnel and heads of the different security agencies in each of the council areas.
THEWILL findings revealed that several years after, the essence for which it was established became defeated.
Local government chairmen and other principal officers prefer to live in the state capital.
The rationale was to reduce the rural-urban drift and also make the council chairmen live in their domain to bring them abreast of citizens’ challenges.
Visits to some of the council areas by our Correspondent revealed that, while that of Uyo has been converted into an orphanage, that of Eket has been allocated to the Army for accommodation.
That of Ikot Ekpene has no council officials living in them, while others located in rural parts of the state have also been hampered by their remote location, making them unattractive to the senior council officials thereby turning the buildings into a hideout for criminals.
More than 90 percent of senior council officials live in the state capital, with a few of them outside Uyo living in their personal houses around council headquarters.
This situation has resulted in high level of absenteeism among the council officials, as many are not always available in their offices due to the long distance between the state capital and places of work.
Some commentators, frowned at this state of affairs as the absence of key council officials has impacted negatively on service delivery and worsens the already low morale and productivity of council staffers.
They have also argued that the abandonment meant that millions of naira spent in building the estates may have been wasted except for few of them that have been put into other uses.
But a few of them like the Chairman of Mkpat Enin Local Council, Mr. Aniekpon Ekpo, who said he resides in his own security village, however, said that logistics made it expedient for them to also reside in Uyo, the state capital.
“As for me, I am living in the security village of my local government in Mkpat Enin; but, sometimes, due to commitment and work exigency, I may be in Uyo probably on official engagement in the ministries with the commissioners/permanent secretaries on things that concern my local government,” Ekpo stated.
The Chairman of Itu Local Government Area, Barr. Etetim Onuk, is also one of those residing in the security village in his council area.
According to him, he finds it more convenient living among his people, adding that the facilities in those apartments are up to date for any class of individual to be comfortable in.
“I have almost 24-hour power supply in my council area, I find it very interesting and convenient staying in my official resident. I’m closer to my people, I feel their pulse, they can easily access me,” he maintained.
The Chairman, Ini LGA, Mr. Israel Idaisin, disclosed that the estate in his domain had been leased to private school operators, as polytechnic in order to wade off criminal elements, who wish to occupy the facility for unwholesome activities.
Meanwhile, Chairman, House of Assembly Committee on Local Government, Hon. Mark Esset, recalled that the Sixth Assembly had passed a resolution, mandating local government councils chiefs and other key officers to relocate to the security villages to be closer to the people.
While regretting that council chairmen refused to abide by the resolution, Esset disclosed there was a plan by his committee to embark on a quarterly visit to councils to ascertain the performance and the state the of security villages across the state.
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