The Akwa Ibom State Government has begun moves towards ensuring that all illegal activities ongoing at the state’s busiest roundabout are brought to an end.
Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Victor Antai dropped this hint when he spoke with newsmen in Uyo a fortnight ago.
Antai said Ibom Plaza has so far been abused and robbed by some people who have since turned the facility into a hideout where different levels of atrocities ranging from armed robbery, pick-pocketing and even rape are being committed.
He regretted the inability of people both citizens and visitors not understanding how to enjoy Ibom Plaza and added that effective 2018, the facility will breathe a new life and shall wear a new phase.
The Culture and Tourism Commissioner maintained that Ibom Plaza had been handed over to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to manage. He promised that under his watch, the facility will be transformed into a very attractive tourism site.
In his words: “you gentlemen will agree with me that the idea of Ibom Plaza which was birthed by our former Governor, Arc Obong Victor Attah is not what we are actually seeing today.
Some persons who don’t love our state had taken over the facility using it to do whatever thing that pleases them.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism had been directed by His Excellency the Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel to take over the management of Ibom Plaza. In this directive, we in the Ministry are to ensure that the facility is given a new phase of life, a facelift and restored to the ideals of what it was meant to be and how it was meant to look like.
To prove our readiness towards restoring the facility, we have sent words to all the persons in the structure doing illegal businessess and having illegal engagements there to vacate the place.
And so far, our words have sunk far and wide into their ears. We expect that all illegal trading and businesses going on in that facility will end as we are moving into the next year.”
Meanwhile, during one of those days Victor Antai was spotted walking round the Ibom plaza and discussing freely with the people telling them of Government’s determination to restore the facility. He had also informed them that they should comply with the directive or risk of being forced out of the facility.
Business operators in the facility who spoke with our reporter maintained that they will comply with the directives from government.
Antai speaking on the taking over of the facility by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism added that the plaza will not only regain the niceness and serenity it was meant to achieve, but will also help to generate funds for the upkeep, betterment and development of Akwa Ibom State. Apart from that, he said, the facility will be a cynosure of all eyes where citizens and visitors would patronize and derive full satisfaction for value of money.
“The Plaza is located in the heart of town which makes it a strategic tourist attraction. It is our determination to ensure that the facility when restored shall generate great assets to the state. It is our considered opinion that the facility will no longer be a harbinger of criminal elements but a structure that will generate fresh interest in Uyo and Akwa Ibom State at large”.
(c) INK Newspaper
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