Governor Eno restated this commitment on Thursday while addressing Government House correspondents after inspecting ongoing preliminary works at the project site in Ikot Ada Idem, Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area.
The Medical City, a flagship component of the ARISE Agenda, is designed to house the Ibom International Hospital, a world-class diagnostics centre, a pharmaceutical industry, a housing estate, and an elderly home, among other facilities.
During the inspection, the governor expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded so far and announced that the official flag-off of the project would hold in the new year. He also revealed that an additional 100 hectares of land was being acquired to accommodate future expansions, including the planned pharmaceutical industry.
Governor Eno said the project aligns with broader investments in healthcare, aviation, tourism, agriculture, and infrastructure, all targeted at positioning Akwa Ibom as a leading destination for economic activity and leisure. He added that the impact of these initiatives would begin to manifest within the next year.
The governor appealed to private sector players to partner with the state in establishing a world-class medical hub, stressing the need for an internationally accredited diagnostics centre that would effectively serve residents and attract medical tourists.
He further disclosed that the medical city was deliberately sited along the route to the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Ikot Ekpene to enhance service delivery to medical tourists, adding that the facility would operate on a dedicated power grid to ensure seamless services.
Governor Eno was accompanied on the tour by top government officials, including Executive Assistant and Chief Delivery Advisor, Mr Aniefiok Johnson; Commissioner for Information, Hon Aniekan Umanah; Commissioner for Lands and Town Planning, Mr Ubong Inyang; Commissioner for Finance/Special Duties, Hon Emem Bob; Commissioner for Health, Dr Ekem John; Commissioner for Housing, Dr Henry Archibong; and the State Surveyor-General, Mrs Emem Isang.
