By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
Akwa Ibom State government has announced waiver for fees amounting to 95 million Naira, required for the procurement of Certificate of Occupancy (CofO), to facilitate the immediate take of Federal College of Education, Ididep in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of the state.
The state governor, Pastor Umo Eno while inspecting facilities at the Presbyterian Senior Science School, Ididep, the proposed site of the institution, promised that the CofO would be ready and issued to the school this week to aid its smooth take off.
According to Governor Eno, the gesture is deliberate, to demonstrate the state government’s commitment to development and encourage deeper collaboration between the state and the federal government.
“We have come today, we have seen. There are dues that the federal Government is required to pay which sums up to about ninety five million, I just waved it this afternoon. This is Friday, before the end of next week, the Certificate of Occupancy shall be presented to you at no cost to the Federal Government or to anybody.
“The state government has waved that and if there are bills to pay for the surface and all of that, we will handle that. This is because we want to continue to encourage our collaboration between the state and the federal”, he stated .
Governor Eno acknowledged that his visit to the school was to explore ways the state government can fast track timely commencement of academic activities in the institution.
He commended Senator Enang for utilizing his position to facilitate the siting of the Federal College of Education in the state, describing the gesture as an attribute of a true son, which is worthy of emulation by other sons and daughters of the state currently in positions of authority.
The governor, again reaffirmed his commitment to serving the people of the state across party lines, devoid of biases and called on Akwa Ibom people to let go of all political misgivings and join hands with him in building a greater state.
The immediate past Senior Special Assistant to former President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang who received Governor Eno at the college, thanked him for his cooperation and support towards the speedy take off of the institution, assuring of equal support to the success of his administration.
Earlier, the chairman of Ibiono Ibom Local Government Council, Mr. Ekpoimo Polycarp, appreciated the Governor for his commitment to developing Ibiono Ibom and his contributions to the commencement of the institution.
The council boss therefore, pledged unalloyed support to the Umo Eno-led administration.
