RismadarVoice Reporters
January 19, 2026
Akwa Ibom State Government has dismissed as false, misleading a statement credited to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over the rehabilitation of Ibom Plaza, Uyo.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the Commissioner for Information, Hon. Aniekan Umanah, the government described claims made by one Manfred Ekpe, who signed the ADC statement, as unfounded and politically motivated.
The government said Ibom Plaza was originally conceived, constructed during the administration of former Governor Obong Victor Attah, but had over the years deteriorated, becoming unkempt, unsanitary and a haven for criminal activities.
According to the statement, Governor Umo Eno had during the 2023 electioneering campaign pledged to rehabilitate the plaza and, in fulfilment of that promise, ordered its comprehensive restoration in November 2025.
The rehabilitation, carried out through the Uyo Capital City Development Authority (UCCDA) in collaboration with relevant ministries and agencies, led to the reopening of the plaza for public use on December 23, 2025.
The government said the intervention included the construction of a new police station, an information and tourism gallery, deployment of two security trucks, restoration of drainage systems, landscaping, structural and aesthetic improvements, rehabilitation of water fountains, installation of solar-powered lighting, CCTV surveillance, public address systems, resurfacing of concrete areas, mural refurbishment, and improved water and sanitation facilities.
The statement noted that prior to the intervention, the plaza posed serious public safety and health risks, but has now been transformed into a safe, functional civic space, witnessing renewed recreational, cultural and leisure activities.
The government also clarified that issues relating to the Oron Road flank of the plaza, including the former First Bank building, are currently subject to an ongoing court case, which it said it is actively working to resolve.
Reacting to allegations attributed to Manfred Ekpe, the government said it had previously reported him to security agencies over alleged threats, stressing that no political platform would shield anyone from being held accountable under the law.
The state government reaffirmed its commitment to service delivery, transparency and sustainable urban renewal, insisting that misinformation and propaganda would not distract the administration from its development agenda.
